Essentials of Terrorism

Captivating, concise, and accessible, this Fourth Edition of Gus Martin’s popular text introduces readers to the modern landscape of terrorism. Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies covers key foundational topics by defining terrorism and introducing its history and causes, as well as discussing terrorist environments (domestic, international, religious, etc.), tactics, targets, and counterterrorism. The Fourth Edition presents new information regarding homeland security, emerging terrorist movements, gender-selective terrorism, the Internet and terrorism, social networking media and terrorism, religious terrorism, and media coverage of terrorism. It also presents new data, case studies, photos, and maps to show readers the locations of major terrorist activities and the devastation they have caused.

Captivating, concise, and accessible, this Fourth Edition of Gus Martin’s popular text introduces readers to the modern landscape of terrorism. Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies covers key foundational topics by defining terrorism and introducing its history and causes, as well as discussing terrorist environments (domestic, international, religious, etc.), tactics, targets, and counterterrorism. The Fourth Edition presents new information regarding homeland security, emerging terrorist movements, gender-selective terrorism, the Internet and terrorism, social networking media and terrorism, religious terrorism, and media coverage of terrorism. It also presents new data, case studies, photos, and maps to show readers the locations of major terrorist activities and the devastation they have caused.

PART I. Understanding Terrorism: A Conceptual ReviewCHAPTER 1. Defining Terrorism Understanding Political Extremism Formal and Informal Definitions Understanding Terrorist Objectives Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? The Political Violence MatrixCHAPTER 2. Historical Perspectives and Ideological Origins Historical Perspectives on Terrorism Ideological Origins of Terrorism September 11, 2001, and the New Era of Terrorism CHAPTER 3. Causes of Terrorist Violence Political Violence as the Fruit of Injustice Political Violence as Strategic Choice Moral Justifications for Political ViolenceCHAPTER 4. Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media Understanding the Role of the Media A New Battleground: The War for the Information PART II: Terrorist EnvironmentsCHAPTER 5. Terrorism by the State Perspectives on Terrorism by Governments Domestic Terrorism by the State Terrorism as Foreign Policy CHAPTER 6. Terrorism by Dissidents Perspectives on Violent Dissent The Practice of Dissident Terrorism Terrorist Targets and Weapons Dissidents and the New Terrorism CHAPTER 7. Religious Terrorism Historical Perspectives on Religious Violence The Practice of Religious Terrorism Trends and Projections CHAPTER 8. International Terrorism Understanding International Terrorism International Terrorist Networks The International Dimension of the New Terrorism CHAPTER 9. Domestic Terrorism in the United States Left-Wing Extremism in the United States Left-Wing Terrorism in the United States Right-Wing Extremism in the United States Right-Wing Terrorism in the United States PART III: The Terrorist BattlegroundCHAPTER 10. Counterterrorism and the War on Terrorism The Use of Force Operations Other Than War: Repressive Options Operations Other Than War: Conciliatory Options Legalistic Responses CHAPTER 11. Homeland Security Homeland Security in Perspective Homeland Security in the United States Civil Liberties and Securing the Homeland CHAPTER 12. Future Trends and Projections What Does the Future Hold? Revisiting the War on Terrorism