Contemporary Debates on Terrorism

Brief Description: "Contemporary Debates on Terrorism is an innovative new textbook, addressing a number of key issues in contemporary terrorism studies from both 'traditional' and 'critical' perspectives. In recent years the terrorism studies field has grown significantly, with an increasing number of scholars beginning to debate the complex dynamics underlying this category of violence. Within the broader field, there are many identifiable controversies and issues which divide scholarly opinion, a number of which are discussed in this text: - Theoretical issues, such as the definition of terrorism and state terrorism; - Substantive issues, including the threat posed by al Qaeda and the utility of different responses to terrorism; - Ethical issues, encompassing the torture of terrorist suspects and targeted assassination The format of the volume involves a leading scholar taking a particular position on the controversy, followed by an opposing or alternative viewpoint written by another contributor. In addition to the pedagogic value of allowing students to read opposing arguments in one place, the volume will also be important for providing an overview of the state of the field and its key lines of debate. Contemporary Debates on Terrorism will be essential reading for all students of terrorism and political violence, critical terrorism studies, critical security studies, security studies and IR in general"--Review Quotes: Few topics have stimulated as much public debate as contemporary terrorism. What, if anything, does the word itself mean? Where did it come from? How serious a threat does it pose, and to whom? What are the best means for stopping it or at least mitigating its effects? Jackson and Sinclair have assembled an outstanding group of scholars who debate the answers to these and other questions in a way that provides readers with clear understandings of both the complexity of the problems involved and alternative ways of solving them. -- Leonard Weinberg, University of Nevada, USA 'This is a comprehensive, thought-provoking and fascinating volume. It provides the reader with conflicting views on terrorism and terrorism related phenomena. The authors are prominent scholars who offer fascinating arguments in a lucid style. This is the kind of scholarship that every individual who has an interest in terrorism should follow.'- Ami Pedahzur, University of Texas at Austin, USA This is an impressive collection of essays on a number of critically important debates on terrorism and political violence by an outstanding group of scholars. Incredibly rich, sober and mature in analysis Contemporary Debates on Terrorism is an excellent addition to the currently available literature and deserves to be read not only by academic specialists but also by security analysts, policy makers and general readers concerned about international security issues. -- George Kassimeris, University of Wolverhampton, UK Contemporary Debates on Terrorism presents a lively and informative selection of central debates which exemplify the modern terrorist environment. Jackson and Sinclair have assembled an exceptionally qualified panel of experts who articulately address critical issues defining the nature of present-day terrorism. Questions posed by the authors, and the robust positions taken by experts in this field, are guaranteed to stimulate critical thinking and quality discussions among readeBiographical Note: Richard Jackson is Professor in International Politics at Aberystwyth University. He is the Founding Editor of the Routledge journal Critical Studies on Terrorism, the convenor of the British International Studies Association (BISA) Critical Studies on Terrorism Working Group (CSTWG), and Editor of the Routledge Critical Terrorism Studies book series. He is the author/editor of four books on terrorism and conflict issues. Samuel Justin Sinclair is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, and Director of Research at the Massachusetts General Hospital's Psychological Evaluation and Research Laboratory (PEaRL). He is also Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the peer-refereed journal Behavioral Sciences of Terrorism and Political Aggression. He is the author/editor of two books. Table of Contents: Acknowledgements -- The editors -- Notes on contributors -- Introduction: contemporary debates on terrorism / Richard Jackson, Samuel Justin Sinclair -- Part I. Definition of terrorism -- 1. Is terrorism still a useful analytical term or should it be abandoned? -- YES: The utility of the concept of terrorism / Paul Wilkinson -- NO: A landscape of meaning: constructing understandings of political violence from the broken paradigm of 'terrorism / Dominic Bryan -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- Part II. Categories of terrorism -- 2. Is there a 'new terrorism' in existence today? -- YES: The 'new terrorism' or the 'newness' of context and change / Alejandra Bolanos -- NO: The fallacy of the new terrorism thesis / Isabelle Duyvesteyn, Leena Malkki -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 3. Can states be terrorists? -- YES: State terror: the theoretical and practical utilities and implications of a contested concept / Michael Stohl -- NO: State terrorism: who needs it? / Colin Wight -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- Part III. The terrorism threat -- 4. Is terrorism a serious threat to international and national security? -- YES: The continuing threat to state security / James Lutz, Brenda Lutz -- NO: Why terrorism is a much smaller threat than you think / Ian S. Lustick -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 5. Is WMD terrorism a likely prospect in the future? -- YES: WMD terrorism: a potential threat to international security / Natividad Carpintero-Santamaria -- NO: WMD terrorism: the prospects / John Mueller -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 6. Does al-Qaeda continue to pose a serious international threat? -- YES: The enduring al-Qaeda threat: a network perspective / Jeffrey B. Cozzens, Magnus Ranstorp -- NO: Al-Qaeda: a diminishing threat / Lee Jarvis -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- Part IV. The causes of terrorism -- 7. Is terrorism the result of root causes such as poverty and exclusion? -- YES: Do structural factors explain terrorism? / Dipak K. Gupta -- NO: Poverty and exclusion are not the root causes of terrorism / L. Rowell Huesmann, Graham R. Huesmann -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 8. Is religious extremism a major cause of terrorism? -- YES: Religious extremism as a major cause of terrorism / Amanda Munroe, Fathali M. Moghaddam -- NO: 'Religious terrorism' as ideology / Jeff Goodwin -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- Part V. Dealing with terrorism -- 9. Are counterterrorism frameworks based on suppression and military force effective in responding to terrorism? -- YES: The use of force to combat terrorism / Boaz Ganor -- NO: Wars of terror - learning the lessons of failure / Paul Rogers -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 10. Is the use of coercive interrogation or torture permissible and effective as a counterterrorism method? -- YES: The truth about American state interrogation techniques, torture and the ticking time-bomb terrorist / Jeffrey Addicott -- NO: Why torture is wrong / Robert Brecher -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 11. Is the targeted assassination of terrorist suspects an effective response to terrorism? -- YES: A viable and vital policy option / Stephanie Carvin -- NO: The case against targeted assassination / Andrew Silke -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- 12. Have global efforts to reduce terrorism and political violence been effective in the past decade? -- YES: 'Looking for a needle in a stack of needles' / Mark Cochrane -- NO: 'Using a sledgehammer to crack a nut' / Rachel Monaghan -- Discussion questions -- Further readings -- References -- Index. Marc Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.; Contemporary Debates on Terrorism is an innovative new textbook, addressing a number of key issues in contemporary terrorism studies from both 'traditional' and 'critical' perspectives. In recent years the terrorism studies field has grown significantly, with an increasing number of scholars beginning to debate the complex dynamics underlying this category of violence. Within the broader field, there are many identifiable controversies and issues which divide scholarly opinion, a number of which are discussed in this text: - Theoretical issues, such as the definition of terrorism and state terrorism;- Substantive issues, including the threat posed by al Qaeda and the utility of different responses to terrorism;- Ethical issues, encompassing the torture of terrorist suspects and targeted assassination The format of the volume involves a leading scholar taking a particular position on the controversy, followed by an opposing or alternative viewpoint written by another contributor. In addition to the pedagogic value of allowing students to read opposing arguments in one place, the volume will also be important for providing an overview of the state of the field and its key lines of debate. Contemporary Debates on Terrorism will be essential reading for all students of terrorism and political violence, critical terrorism studies, critical security studies, security studies and IR in general--; Provided by publisher. Publisher Marketing: Debating Terrorism is an innovative new textbook, addressing a number of key issues in contemporary terrorism studies from both 'traditional' and 'critical' perspectives. In recent years, the terrorism studies field has grown in quantity and quality, with a growing number of scholars rooted in various professional disciplines beginning to debate the complex dynamics underlying this category of violence. Within the broader field, there are a number of identifiable controversies and questions which divide scholarly opinion and generate opposing arguments. These relate to theoretical issues, such as the definition of terrorism and state terrorism, substantive issues like the threat posed by al Qaeda and the utility of different responses to terrorism, different pathways leading people to engage in terrorist tactics, and ethical issues such as the torture of terrorist suspects and targeted assassination. This volume aims to bring together in one place many of the field's leading scholars to debate the key issues relating a set of 12 important controversies and questions. The format of the volume involves a leading scholar taking a particular position on the controversy, followed by an opposing or alternative viewpoint written by another scholar. In addition to the pedagogic value of allowing students to read opposing arguments in one place, the volume will also be important for providing an overview of the state of the field and its key lines of debate. This textbook will be essential reading for all students of terrorism and political violence, critical terrorism studies, critical security studies, security studies and IR in general.

Contributor Bio:  Jackson, Richard Richard Jackson is the author of nine previous books of poetry, two books of criticism, a translation from Slovene, and several chapbooks. He is a winner of Guggenheim, Fulbright, NEA, NEH and Witter-Bynner Fellowships, five Pushcart appearances, as well as prizes from Prairie Schooner, RATTLE, and Crazyhorse. Jackson's poems have been translated into 15 languages. He was a recipient of the Slovene Order of Freedom Award for Humanitarian and Literary work in the Balkans and recipient of the 2009 AWP George Garrett Award. Jackson has taught at the Iowa Summer Festival, Prague Summer Program, Bread Loaf and other venues, and teaches at UT Chattanooga and the Vermont College of Fine Arts low residency program, winning teaching awards at both schools. Contributor Bio:  Sinclair, Samuel J SAMUEL J. SINCLAIR is Co-Founder and President of the Society for Terrorism Research (www.societyforterrorismresearch.org). He is currently a Fellow in Psychology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He is also Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief of the peer-refereed journal Terrorism Research, and developed as well as collaborated with an international Editorial Board comprised of some 80 experts from 14 countries on five continents. Sinclair is also the developer of the Terrorism Catastrophizing Scale, a new assessment tool measuring anticipatory fears about terrorism. He is past recipient of the Association for Threat Assessment Professionals' Chris Hatcher Memorial Scholarship Award.