Terrorism refers to the use of violence, intimidation or threat of harm in order to achieve political, religious or ideological goals. It is often carried out by groups or individuals who do not accept the legitimacy of a government or regime and seek to disrupt societies through fear and destruction. Terrorist acts can take many forms including bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and hijackings. The goal of terrorism is usually to create an atmosphere of fear in order to achieve political change or to force concessions from a government or society.