This book charts a path through the outpouring of efforts to understand and explain modern terrorism, by asking what makes terrorism different from other forms of political, military action; what makes it effective; and what can be done about it. It unravels complex central questions such as whether terrorists are criminals, whether terrorism is a kind of war, what kind of threat terrorism represents, how far media publicity sustains terrorism, and whether democracy is especially vulnerable to terrorist attack. It examines the historical ideological and local roots of terrorist violence, and the success of specific terrorist and anti-terrorist campaigns in the more distant as well as the recent past.
Review quote:
'Like the other excellent books in this series, this is rigorous and compelling [...] balanced and sensible'
Is one person's terrorist another's freedom fighter? Is terrorism crime or war? Can there be a 'war against terrorism'? This book unravels the questions at the heart of the problem of terrorism--its causes, methods, effects and limitations--suggesting that it must be understood as a political strategy whose threat can be rationally grasped and answered.
Review quote:
'Like the other excellent books in this series, this is rigorous and compelling [...] balanced and sensible'
Is one person's terrorist another's freedom fighter? Is terrorism crime or war? Can there be a 'war against terrorism'? This book unravels the questions at the heart of the problem of terrorism--its causes, methods, effects and limitations--suggesting that it must be understood as a political strategy whose threat can be rationally grasped and answered.