Understanding Terrorism

Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues

The study of terrorism requires a review of the events, ideas, motivations, and histories that result in terrorist acts, as well as an examination of the theories that help explain this volatile behavior.

Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues is a dynamic textbook for students who wish to explore the phenomenon of terrorism past and present. The text begins with a conceptual overview of terrorism, progresses to a focused discussion of the terrorists, investigates the nuances of the terrorist trade, and concludes with a final analysis of modern terrorism.

Understanding Terrorism is a primary source of information about terrorist typologies, the cause of terrorist violence, and responses to terrorism. The content emphasizes key perspectives and identifies critical issues, which also makes it an excellent resource for developing critical thinking on the subject. Accessibly written, each chapter has historical examples, case studies, discussion boxes, and Web exercises.

Features and Benefits:

Comprehensive yet Accessible. The text is written in an engaging style and includes appendixes that present focused information, including a chronology of historical events, a complete glossary, recommended Web sites and a list of relevant documentaries and dramatic films.

Compelling. Cases in Point provide a "reality check" for important theoretical concepts discussed in the chapter and Perspectives are boxed topics of special interest for students.

Stimulating. Discussion boxes present provocative information and pose challenging questions to promote critical thinking and further debate.

Interactive. Web exercises are included for students and instructors to explore and discuss information found on the Internet.

Review:

"I am very favorably impressed with this book. The author is well informed and an excellent writer. The recommended readings, Web sites, boxes, tables and the like provide very attractive features. There is an abundance of very good historical and current examples. I would adopt this book for my courses and look forward to its publication."

-- Frank Hagan

Contents: Preface Acknowledgments PART I: TERRORISM - A CONCEPTUAL REVIEW Chapter 1. An Introduction to Terrorism Chapter Introduction Historical Perspectives of Terrorism Exploring Definitions, Sources, and Ideologies The Morality of Terrorist Violence: Four Quotations Terrorism and Criminal Skill: Three Cases Terrorist Symbolism: Oklahoma City and September 11, 2001 Case in Point: The Assassins Chapter Summary Chapter 2. The Nature of the Beast - Defining Terrorism Chapter Introduction Reactionaries and Radicals: Revisiting the Classical Ideological Continuum Understanding Extremism - The Foundation of Terrorism Defining Terrorism A Definitional Problem: Perspectives of Terrorism The Political Violence Matrix Case in Point: Are "Hate Crimes" Acts of Terrorism? Chapter Summary Chapter 3 Beginnings - The Causes of Terrorism Chapter Introduction Motives of Terrorists Explanations of Terrorism Case in Point: Profiles of Terrorists Chapter Summary PART II: THE TERRORIST Chapter 4 Terror From Above - State Terrorism Chapter Introduction Monitoring State Terrorism A State Terrorism Paradigm State Terrorism as Foreign Policy State Terrorism as Domestic Policy Case in Point: Latin American State Terrorism as Domestic Policy and North African/Middle Eastern State Terrorism as Foreign Policy Chapter Summary Chapter 5. Terror from Below - Dissident Terrorism Chapter Introduction A Dissident Terrorism Paradigm Operational Shifts - The New Morality and the Rise of Terrorist Cells Anti-State Dissident Terrorism Communal Terrorism Case in Point: The Tupamaros Chapter Summary Chapter 6. Class Struggle and National Liberation - The Terrorist Left Chapter Introduction Left-Wing Ideology and Activism Leftist Terrorism The Future of the Violent Left Case in Point: Supportive Environments on the Left - 1968 Paris Chapter Summary Chapter 7. Race and Order - The Terrorist Right Chapter Introduction Right-Wing Ideology and Activism Common Themes on the Right Rightist Terrorism The Future of the Violent Right Case in Point: Supportive Environments on the Right - Racist Skinheads Chapter Summary Chapter 8. For the Faith and Profit - Religious and Criminal Terrorism Chapter Introduction Religious Terrorism Criminal Terrorism Case in Point: The Beka'a Valley Chapter Summary Chapter 9. Terrorist Spillovers - International Terrorism Chapter Introduction Defining International Terrorism Reasons for International Terrorism International Terrorist Networks Postscript: The "Stateless Revolutionaries" Case in Point: Cooperation Between Terrorists: An Overview of the European Connection Chapter Summary PART III: THE TERRORIST TRADE Chapter 10. Tools of the Trade - Tactics and Targets of Terrorists Chapter Introduction Terrorist Objectives Terrorist Methods Terrorist Targets The Outcome - Is Terrorism Effective? Case in Point: The Engineer Chapter Summary Chapter 11. The Role of the Media Chapter Introduction An Introduction to the Role of the Media A New Battleground: The War for the Information High Ground The Public's Right to Know: Regulating the Media Case in Point: Media-Oriented Terror and Lebanon's Hezbollah Chapter Summary PART IV: FINAL ANALYSIS Chapter 12. Terrorism in the United States Chapter Introduction Background to Political Violence on the Left and Right Left-Wing Terrorism in the United States Right-Wing Terrorism in the United States The New Millennium and International Terrorism in the United States Case in Point: Lynching - Vigilante Communal Terrorism in the United States Chapter Summary Chapter 13. Responding to Terror - The Options Chapter Introduction Counter-Terrorism and the Use of Force Operations Other than War - Repressive Options Operations Other than War - Conciliatory Options Legalistic Responses Case in Point: Hostage Rescues Chapter Summary Chapter 14. What Next? - The Future of Terrorism Chapter Introduction The Future of Terrorism Controlling Terrorism Prospects for Terrorism in the United States Case in Point: The Technology of Surveillance Chapter Summary Maps Glossary Appendices U.S. Department of State Terrorism Tables Summary of Historical Examples Recommended Internet Sites and Web Exercises Documentaries and Dramatic Films Subject/Name Index