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Research on terrorism and counterterrorism draws on many disciplines, including Poli tics, History, Sociology and Anthropology. Yet there are concerns about scope, method ology, impact, and the level of public debate. An agreed definition of terrorism is unattainable: there should be more focus on particular acts rather than labelling whole movements. The threat of terrorism should be kept in proportion. Understanding its causes, and associated belief-systems, is crucial to conducting effective counterterror ist operations. Evaluations of the effectiveness of both terrorism and counterterrorism needtoencompassmorefactors,includingterrorism’sdeadliestlegacies:warsonterror that fail, and a habit of violence.