Debating Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Conflicting Perspectives on Causes, Contexts, and Responses

Stuart Gottlieb

CQ Press, Mar 29, 2013 - Political Science - 432 pages

Featuring paired pro/con pieces written specifically for this volume, Debating Terrorism and Counterterrorism : Conflicting Perspectives on Causes, Contexts, and Responses encourages students to grapple with the central debates surrounding the field of terrorism. With topics ranging from the root causes of terrorism, the role of religion in terrorism, whether suicide terrorism is ever justified, whether the spread of democracy can help defeat terrorism, and what trade-offs should exist between security and civil liberties, Gottlieb's outstanding cast of contributors returns, compelling students to wrestle with the conflicting perspectives that define the field.

Stuart Gottlieb frames the paired essays with incisive headnotes, providing historical context and preparing students to read each argument critically. Each selection has been updated to account for recent world events, policy changes, and new scholarship. New to the reader, and by reviewer request, is a chapter, "Can Global Institutions Make a Difference in Fighting Terrorism?"

Contents

• IS THE NEW TERRORISM REALLY NEW?: 1
• DOES POVERTY SERVE AS A ROOT CAUSE OF TERRORISM?: 35
• CAN TERRORISM EVER BE JUSTIFIED?: 69
• DOES ISLAM PLAY A UNIQUE ROLE IN MODERN RELIGIOUS TERRORISM?: 101
• IS SUICIDE TERRORISM AN EFFECTIVE TACTIC?: 136
• IS NUCLEAR TERRORISM A REAL THREAT?: 172
• COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGIES DO WE NEED BOMBS OVER BRIDGES?: 209
• CAN SPREADING DEMOCRACY HELP DEFEAT TERRORISM?: 243
• CAN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN FIGHTING TERRORISM?: 276
• IS AN OUTRIGHT BAN THE BEST WAY TO ELIMINATE OR CONSTRAIN TORTURE?: 312
• COUNTERTERRORISM AND THE CONSTITUTION DOES PROVIDING SECURITY REQUIRE A TRADEOFF WITH CIVIL LIBERTIES?: 345
• CONCLUSION IS THE THREAT OF TERRORISM BEING OVERSTATED?: 380
• ABOUT THE EDITOR: 408

About the author

Stuart Gottlieb teaches at the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, where he is also an affiliate of the Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies. His courses and research focus on American foreign policy, counterterrorism, and international security. He formerly served as a senior foreign policy adviser and speechwriter in the United States Senate (1999-2003), and continues to advise and consult on issues related to foreign policy and terrorism. Gottlieb received his Ph.D. in international relations from Columbia University, and is an adjunct professor at New York University's graduate politics program.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Debating Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Conflicting Perspectives on Causes, Contexts, and Responses
• Editor: Stuart Gottlieb
• Edition: 2
• Publisher: CQ Press, 2013
• ISBN: 1483301117, 9781483301112
• Length: 432 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / Terrorism