Conceptual Ambiguity in International Security: Examining international order, security sector assistance, and terrorism

International security relies on key concepts that, while central to scholarship and policy, remain deeply contested. this paper examines three foundational concepts—international order, security sector assistance (SSA), and terrorism—through a comparative analysis of definitions and an empirical examination of usage patterns. Despite their prominence, these concepts lack universally accepted definitions, leading to inconsistencies in both academic discourse and practical application. The first section explores international order, assessing competing views on whether the post-Cold War era remains U.S.-led, is transitioning toward multi-polarity, or represents an indeterminate configuration. The second section interrogates SSA, often conflated with security cooperation, and evaluates whether a clear definitional boundary exists. The third section revisits terrorism, a term mired in definitional disputes, and synthesizes key debates that hinder knowledge-building and empirical application. By examining ambiguity and definitions, this paper contributes to the broader study of concept analysis in political science.