Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues offers a multidisciplinary, comprehensive exploration of domestic and international terrorism that helps students develop the knowledge and skills needed to critically assess the expressions and underlying causes of terrorism. Martin explores theory and provides in-depth analysis in an accessible, engaging manner that helps readers develop the knowledge and skills they need to engage meaningfully with this robust course.
C. Augustus “Gus” Martin is Director of the School of Public Service and Justice at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He is also a Professor of Criminal Justice Administration, where he regularly teaches a course on the subject of terrorism and extremism. He has served as Associate Vice President for Human Resources Management, Acting Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs, and Chair of the Department of Public Administration. He began his academic career as a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, where he was an Administration of Justice professor. His current research and professional interests are terrorism and extremism, homeland security, the administration of justice, and juvenile justice.
Dr. Martin is author of several books on the subjects of terrorism and homeland security, including Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies (SAGE Publications, 2022); Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (SAGE Publications, 2021); Understanding Homeland Security (SAGE Publications, 2020); Terrorism: An International Perspective (with Fynnwin Prager; SAGE Publications, 2019); The SAGE Encyclopedia of Terrorism, Second Edition (SAGE Publications, 2011); Terrorism and Homeland Security (SAGE Publications, 2011); and The New Era of Terrorism: Selected Readings (SAGE Publications, 2004). He is also author of Juvenile Justice: Process and Systems (SAGE Publications, 2005).
Prior to joining academia, Dr. Martin served as Managing Attorney for the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh, where he was also director of a program created under a federal consent decree to desegregate public and assisted housing. He was also Special Counsel to the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas. As Special Counsel, he occupied a personal and confidential position in the central office of the Department of Justice; sat as hearing officer for disciplinary hearings and departmental grievances; served as chair of the Drug Policy Committee; served as liaison to the intergovernmental Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee as well as to the Narcotics Strike Force; and provided daily legal and policy advice to the Attorney General. Prior to serving as Special Counsel, he was a “floor” Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York. As Legislative Assistant, he researched, evaluated and drafted legislation in areas of foreign policy, foreign aid, human rights, housing, education, social services, and poverty; he also drafted House floor statements, Congressional Record inserts, press releases, and news articles; and he composed speeches, briefing materials, and legislative correspondence.
Part I • Terrorism: A Conceptual ReviewChapter 1 • Terrorism: First ImpressionsChapter 2 • The Nature of the Beast: Defining TerrorismChapter 3 • Beginnings: The Causes of TerrorismPart II • Terrorist Environments and TypologiesChapter 4 • Terror From Above: Terrorism by the StateChapter 5 • Terror From Below: Terrorism by DissidentsChapter 6 • Violence in the Name of the Faith: Religious TerrorismChapter 7 • Violent Ideologies: Terrorism From the Left and RightChapter 8 • Terrorist Spillovers: International TerrorismChapter 9 • Emerging Terrorist Environments: Gender-Selective Political Violence and Criminal Dissident TerrorismPart III • The Terrorist Trade and CounterterrorismChapter 10 • Tools of the Trade: Tactics and Targets of TerroristsChapter 11 • The Information Battleground: Terrorist Violence and the Role of the MediaChapter 12 • The American Case: Terrorism in the United StatesChapter 13 • Counterterrorism: The OptionsPart IV • Securing the HomelandChapter 14 • A New Era: Homeland SecurityChapter 15 • What Next? The Future of TerrorismAppendix A: Map ReferencesAppendix B: Prominent Persons and OrganizationsAppendix C: Two Thousand Years of Terror—Historical ExamplesGlossary of Terms
