The act of using violence to intimidate governments or societies is known as what?

The act of using violence to intimidate governments or societies is defined as terrorism. This concept encompasses the deliberate use of violence or the threat of violence to instill fear, compel action, or influence political decisions. Terrorism often targets civilians and can be carried out by individuals, groups, or state actors to achieve ideological, political, or religious goals.

In contrast, dictatorship refers to a form of government where absolute power is concentrated in a single leader or a small group, typically characterized by authoritarianism and repression. Militarism involves the belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests. A revolution involves a significant change in political power or organizational structures that occurs when a population revolts against an oppressive government, but it does not inherently involve the use of violence for intimidation purposes.

Therefore, terrorism is the most accurate term for the specific use of violence aimed at creating fear and influencing political outcomes.