Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies

Gus Martin

SAGE, 2008 - Political Science - 343 pages

"Essentials of Terrorism is an ideal anchor textbook for investigating the many aspects of terrorism, political violence, and homeland security. That it is easily adapted to these subjects means that instructors will be able to design a variety of instructional packages around it. In this way, the text is a versatile resource." -SirReadaLot.org

Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies is a comprehensive yet compact resource that provides a thorough introduction to many facets of the world of modern terrorism. This briefer, captivating version of Gus Martin's popular text Understanding Terrorism, Second Edition is an effective stand-alone textbook for undergraduate classes. It can also be used effectively in conjunction with other resources, such as Martin's collection of readings The New Era of Terrorism or with other supplemental books or journal articles for an upper-level undergraduate or master's level audience.


Key Features
• Provides a foundation for understanding terrorism: Extensive coverage in Chapter 1 helps readers grasp and define the concept of terrorism; each chapter includes extensive historical background.
. Presents simple, helpful pedagogical aids to bolster learning: Chapter introductions, chapter perspectives, chapter summaries, discussion boxes, and a glossary bring key concepts to life for students.
. Offers engaging coverage of cutting-edge issues: The author addresses contemporary topics, including gender-selective terrorism, media coverage of terrorism issues and related ethical issues, the Internet and terrorism, and religious terrorism. Martin provides additional coverage of the conflict in Iraq to illustrate its impact on international terrorism.
. Includes stimulating illustrative aids: Maps and dramatic photos help show the locations of terrorist activity and the devastation caused by terrorist activity; tables and figures allow readers to conduct valuable comparison research and analysis.


Ancillaries
. A student study site is available containing introductions to journal articles, recommended Web sites, full-text journal articles tied to each chapter, e-flashcards, Web exercises, and more. www.sagepub.com/martinessstudy

. Instructors' Resources on CD-ROM provide professors with a test bank, maps, PowerPoint presentations, activity and lecture suggestions, and more.


Intended Audience:
This is an excellent text, either alone or with readings or other materials, for undergraduate and graduate courses in Terrorism, Homeland Security, International Security, Criminal Justice Administration, Political Conflict, Armed Conflict, and Social Movements in departments of criminal justice, sociology, and political science. It is also suitable for professionals who require instruction in understanding terrorism.

Contents

• Defining Terrorism: 2
• Understanding Political Extremism: 3
• Formal and Informal Definitions: 6
• Terrorists or Freedom Fighters?: 11
• Chapter Summary: 16
• Key Terms and Concepts: 20
• Recommended Readings: 21
• Historical Perspectives and Ideological Origins: 22
• Ideological Origins of Terrorism: 26
• September 11 2001 and the New Era of Terrorism: 37
• Chapter Summary: 41
• Key Terms and Concepts: 42
• Terrorism on the Web: 43
• Causes of Terrorist Violence: 44
• Political Violence as the Fruit of Injustice: 45
• Political Violence as Strategic Choice: 51
• The Morality of Political Violence: 54
• Chapter Summary: 60
• Key Terms and Concepts: 63
• Terrorist Environments: 65
• Terrorism by the State: 66
• Domestic Terrorism by the State: 72
• Terrorism as Foreign Policy: 81
• Chapter Summary: 86
• Key Terms and Concepts: 88
• Terrorism on the Web: 89
• Terrorism by Dissidents: 90
• Perspectives on Violent Dissent: 92
• The Practice of Dissident Terrorism: 96
• Dissidents and the New Terrorism: 104
• Chapter Summary: 107
• Key Terms and Concepts: 109
• Terrorism on the Web: 110
• Religious Terrorism: 111
• The Practice of Religious Terrorism: 120
• Trends and Projections: 129
• Chapter Summary: 130
• Key Terms and Concepts: 131
• Terrorism on the Web: 132
• International Terrorism: 133
• Understanding International Terrorism: 134
• International Terrorist Networks: 142
• The International Dimension of the New Terrorism: 145
• Chapter Summary: 151
• Key Terms and Concepts: 152
• Recommended Readings: 153
• Domestic Terrorism in the United States: 154
• Extremism in America: 157
• Leftist Terrorism in the United States: 161
• RightWing Terrorism in the United States: 168
• Chapter Summary: 174
• Key Terms and Concepts: 175
• Terrorism on the Web: 176
• Recommended Readings: 177
• The Terrorist Battleground: 179
• Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media: 180
• Mass Communications and the War for Information: 185
• Chapter Summary: 193
• Key Terms and Concepts: 195
• Recommended Readings: 196
• Tactics and Targets of Terrorists: 197
• Understanding Terrorist Objectives: 198
• The Terrorists Arsenal: 201
• Terrorist Targets: 209
• Chapter Summary: 215
• Key Terms and Concepts: 217
• Terrorism on the Web: 218
• Counterterrorism and the War on Terrorism: 219
• The Use of Force: 221
• Operations Other Than War: 229
• Legalistic Responses: 237
• Chapter Summary: 245
• Key Terms and Concepts: 247
• Terrorism on the Web: 248
• Future Trends and Projections: 249
• Revisiting the War on Terrorism: 260
• Chapter Summary: 269
• Key Terms and Concepts: 271
• Map References: 272
• National Intelligence Estimate The Terrorist Threat to the US Homeland: 285
• Photo Credits: 292
• Glossary: 293
• Notes: 311
• Index: 318

Bibliographic information

• Title: Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies
• Author: Gus Martin
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: SAGE, 2008
• ISBN: 1412953138, 9781412953139
• Length: 343 pages
• Subjects: Political Science / International Relations / General; Political Science / Terrorism