THE PURPOSE OF THE DISCUSSION IS TO DEMONSTRATE THE NEED FOR A SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY OF TERRORISM AND TO ILLUSTRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS SUCH A THEORY COULD OFFER TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF TERRORISM AS A SOCIAL PHENOMENON. THE DISCUSSION FOCUSES ON TERRORISM INVOLVING POLICICALLY MOTIVATED VIOLENCE OR THREATS DIRECTED AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT, ITS REPRESENTATIVES, AND THE INSTITUTIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT SUPPORT IT. IT IS ARGUED THAT, BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF TERRORISM, THE CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE IS IDEAL FOR INITIAL SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF TERRORISM. BEING BOTH IMPLICITLY AND EXPLICITLY POLITICAL, TERRORISM FITS THE CRITERIA OF CRITICAL CRIMINOLOGY BETTER THAN CONVENTIONAL CRIME. ELEVEN PROPOSITIONS CONCERNING THE NATURE OF TERRORISM ARE DEVELOPED FROM THE CRIMINOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE, AND EVIDENCE FROM CASE STUDIES AND GOVERNMENT DATA ARE PRESENTED IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSITIONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-LKM).