Terrorism: Research, Readings and Realities / Edition 1

by Lynne L. Snowden, Bradley C. Whitsel

Overview

Written by a variety of experts on terrorism and extremism, this volume contains original, cutting-edge essays that cover unusual aspects of these subjects and illuminate the significant developments and trends taking place in the field. The reader also examines some important case studies, and offers new insights into topics of growing concern and pressing importance. Individual units examine domestic, international, cultic, and atavistic terrorism; and the book concludes with a section on post 9/11 security concerns. For intergovernmental organizations, national governments, policy analysts, law enforcement groups, scholars, and a society at large faced with the arrival of tumultuous times.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780131173736
Publisher:	Pearson
Publication date:	12/29/2004
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Lynne L. Snowden, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. She has published three books, Collective Violence (Allyn & Bacon) and Preventing Terrorism, 1st and 2nd eds (2002 & 2003) and numerous journal articles on violence, terrorism, policing, and other related topics. Dr. Snowden began her study of group violence and risk assessment when she worked with Dr. Henry Quarantelli at the Disaster Research Center of the University of Delaware, where she earned her doctorate. The extensive library of collective-violence topics, such as riots, rebellions, and cult behavior, and field data collected by Center researchers during the turbulent 60s on riots and anti-war protests helped her to develop a course on terrorism, cults, and hate groups that she continues to teach yearly. Recently her interest broadened to the study of homeland security since the topic combines her research in illegal migration, risk assessment of violent groups, and policing issues.

Bradley C. Whitsel, Ph.D., earned his doctorate in political science at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University. His research interests include terrorism, religion and politics, and cults/alternative religions. In addition to his journal publications in these areas, he has written a book on a major North American new religious movement, The Church Universal and Triumphant (Syracuse University Press, 2003). He is presently researching radical political and social movements at the University of Kansas Wilcox Collection for a new project on historic anti-statist groups in the United States.

Read an Excerpt

The contents of Terrorism: Research, Readings, and Realities include essays that bring focus to both established issues and new developments in the multidisciplinary field of terrorist studies. While the range of topics is broad, each of the essays provides insights into aspects of the phenomena of terrorism and extremism. Both conceptual and case-study approaches are employed to provide the reader with a variety of theoretical, historical, control-oriented, and descriptive explorations of timely and controversial subjects. (Any articles which were previously published have been retained in their original state.) The breadth and diversity of the researched essays and the inclusion of many new contributions on compelling issues make the volume especially well-suited for student use in courses on terrorism and extremism at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Likewise, scholars will find that the fresh research produced for this edited volume adds to the body of knowledge which has been accumulating in this field.

The peer-review process is critical to the production of scholarly work, and for this reason, the editors wish to thank the evaluators who read and commented upon the manuscript prior to its publication: L. D. Andrews, Missouri Western State College; Paul Becker, University of Dayton; Lloyd Klein, Bemidji State University; John J. Mason, Upper Iowa University; Jill Miller, Missouri Western State College; and Gary Warchol, Northern Michigan University. Their recommendations were greatly valued. Our publisher, Prentice Hall, was entirely supportive throughout the duration of this project and we thank Frank Mortimer and Kornne Dorsey, in particular, fortheir helpful advice (and gentle deadline reminders) at important times. Thanks also go to the United States Institute of Peace and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their willingness to allow selected reprint reports to be published and especially to each of the individual contributing authors to Terrorism: Research, Readings, and Realities, who gave their time and effort to help bring the project to completion.

Table of Contents

I. INTRODUCTION.

II. DOMESTIC TERRORISM.

1. Identity and the Terrorist Threat: An Interpretive and Explanatory Model, Michael P. Arena and Bruce A. Arrigo.

2. The Changing Face of American Terrorism, Sarah H. Corley, Brent L. Smith, and Kelly Damphousse.

3. Federal Programs and their Potential to Provoke Political Violence: The Transportation Program for Yucca Mountain and Terrorist Adversaries, Lawrence Becker and James David Ballard.

4. The Diplomacy of Counterterrorism: Lessons Learned, Ignored, and Disputed, Audrey Kurth Cronin.

5. Implementing “Justice” through Terror and Destruction: Eco-terror’s Violent Agenda to “Save” Nature, Kelly Stoner and Gary Perlstein.

III. INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM.

6. Islamic Extremists: How Do They Mobilize Support? Judy Barsalou.

7. Analysis of Organizational Characteristics for Groups Who Would Use Radiological Weapons of Mass Destruction, Dominic Little and James David Ballard.

8. Steganography and Terrorism: An Introduction to Data Hiding and Its Use in Terrorist Activities, Robert Moore and Darin Walker.

9. Interpol and the Policing of International Terrorism: Developments and Dynamics since September 11, Matthieu DeFlem and Lindsay C. Maybin.

IV. CULTIC TERRORISM.

10. The IHR and Holocaust Denial, David C. Lobb.

11. Catastrophic New Age Groups and Public Order, Bradley C. Whitsel.

12. Yesterday's News? The WMD Terrorism Threat Today, James O. Ellis, III.

13. Project Megiddo Excerpt, The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.

V. ATAVISTIC TERRORISM.

14. Zealous before the Lord: The Construction of the Christian Identity Theology, Adam L. Silverman.

15. Security Threat Groups: The Threat Posed by White Supremacist Organizations, Lt. Gregory W. Etter, Sr.

16. Leaderless Resistance: Are Terrorist Groups a Thing of the Past? Lynne L. Snowden.

17. Extremism in the Military: The Burmeister Case and Policy Response, Col. George E. Reed.

18. Rural Radical Religion: Christian Identity and Covenant Community Militias, Chester L. Quarles.

VI. CONCLUSION.

19. Planning for Campus Security after 9/11: One University's Experience, Max L. Bromley.

20. Post 9/11: Are We Really Safer Now? Jeffrey Ian Ross.

Index.

Preface

The contents of Terrorism: Research, Readings, and Realities include essays that bring focus to both established issues and new developments in the multidisciplinary field of terrorist studies. While the range of topics is broad, each of the essays provides insights into aspects of the phenomena of terrorism and extremism. Both conceptual and case-study approaches are employed to provide the reader with a variety of theoretical, historical, control-oriented, and descriptive explorations of timely and controversial subjects. (Any articles which were previously published have been retained in their original state.) The breadth and diversity of the researched essays and the inclusion of many new contributions on compelling issues make the volume especially well-suited for student use in courses on terrorism and extremism at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Likewise, scholars will find that the fresh research produced for this edited volume adds to the body of knowledge which has been accumulating in this field.

The peer-review process is critical to the production of scholarly work, and for this reason, the editors wish to thank the evaluators who read and commented upon the manuscript prior to its publication: L. D. Andrews, Missouri Western State College; Paul Becker, University of Dayton; Lloyd Klein, Bemidji State University; John J. Mason, Upper Iowa University; Jill Miller, Missouri Western State College; and Gary Warchol, Northern Michigan University. Their recommendations were greatly valued. Our publisher, Prentice Hall, was entirely supportive throughout the duration of this project and we thank Frank Mortimer and Kornne Dorsey, in particular, for their helpful advice (and gentle deadline reminders) at important times. Thanks also go to the United States Institute of Peace and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their willingness to allow selected reprint reports to be published and especially to each of the individual contributing authors to Terrorism: Research, Readings, and Realities, who gave their time and effort to help bring the project to completion.

Editorial Reviews

"I generally think the text would be a valuable resource for my students and wouldn't hesitate to assign it in my next ...class." — John J. Mason, Upper Iowa University

"There are few manuscripts currently on the market for the beginning or intermediate researcher of terrorism. This could certainly fill the gap." — .D. Andrews, Missouri Western State College

"I consider this book a 'perfect fit' for terrorism courses in criminal justice, law enforcement and political science departments..." — Tom Molumby, West Illinois University

From the Publisher