Violent Extremists: Understanding the Domestic and International Terrorist Threat

by Thomas R. Mockaitis

Overview

Written for general readers and professionals alike, this succinct but comprehensive work examines the hybrid nature of the two violent extremist movements threatening the United States: Islamist extremism and white nationalism.

Scholarship as well as popular discourse on terrorism often focuses disproportionately on specific groups without paying sufficient attention to the ideology that motivates them. This book emphasizes understanding and countering the ideology that fuels extremism over preoccupation with specific organizations such as Al Qaeda or ISIS. It sets contemporary terrorist threats in perspective, avoiding fearmongering and political rhetoric.

The book examines the nature of violent extremism today in all its forms, including lone wolves and cyber threats. Focusing on both international and domestic terrorism, it analyzes each threat in depth as a multidimensional hybrid phenomenon: as an ideology, as distinct groups espousing that ideology, and as a network of followers. Written in an accessible style by an author who has studied terrorism for more than 30 years and provided extensive media coverage on the subject, this book makes a valuable contribution to the literature on violent extremism.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440859489
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/05/2019
Series:	Praeger Security International
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Thomas R. Mockaitis is professor of history at DePaul University, USA. He presents programs with other experts through the Center for Civil-Military Relations at the Naval Postgraduate School at venues around the world.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction 1

1 Understanding Extremism 5

2 Radical Islamism and the Rise of Al-Qaeda 23

3 ISIS 45

4 Domestic Extremism 65

5 Lone Wolves on the Prowl 91

6 Nightmare Scenarios 113

Conclusions and Responses 123

Notes 137

Select Bibliography 161

Index 175