Terrorism: A Very Short Introduction (3rd Edition)

Description

Very Short Introductions have proven to be extremely popular with general readers, as well as undergraduates and their lecturers.

Is one person’s terrorist another’s freedom fighter? Is terrorism crime or war? Can there be a ‘War on Terror’?

Is terrorism crime or war? Can there be a ‘war against terrorism’? In this fully updated edition, Charles Townshend 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.

For many, the terrorist attacks of September 2001 changed the face of the world, pushing terrorism to the top of political agendas, and leading to a series of world events including the war in Iraq and the invasion of Afghanistan. The recent terror attacks in various European cities have shown that terrorism remains a crucial issue today. Charting a clear path through the efforts to understand and explain modern terrorism, Charles Townshend examines the historical, ideological, and local roots
of terrorist violence.

Starting from the question of why terrorists find it so easy to seize public attention, this new edition analyses the emergence of terrorism as a political strategy, and discusses the objectives which have been pursued by users of this strategy from French revolutionaries to Islamic jihadists. Considering the kinds of groups and individuals who adopt terrorism, Townshend discusses the emergence of ISIS and the upsurge in individual suicide action, and explores the issues involved in finding a proportionate response to the threat they present, particularly by liberal democratic societies. Analysing the growing use of knives and other edged weapons in attacks, and the issue of ‘cyberterror‘, Townshend details the use of counterterrorist measures, from control orders to drone strikes, including the Belgian and French responses to the Brussels, Paris, Nice, and Rouen attacks.

Key Features

• Discusses recent changes in terrorism, such as the emergence of ISIS and the upsurge in individual suicide action
• Looks at the impact and consequences of several recentterrorist attacks, including those in Brussels, Paris, Nice, and Rouen
• Answers the pertinent questions – What is terrorism? Is it war? Is democracy especially vulnerable to terrorist attacks? What can we do to stop it?
• Explores the impact of increased terrorism on society, including debates surrounding the erosion of civil liberties
• Discusses the issue of ‘cyberterror’
• Part of the Very Short Introductions series – over nine million copies sold worldwide

Table of Contents

1. The trouble with terrorism
2. Crusaders and conspirators
3. The reign of terror
4. Revolutionary terrorism
5. Nationalism and terror
6. Religious terror
7. Countering terrorism
8. References
9. Further Reading
10. Index

About the Series

Oxford’s Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects – from Public Health to Buddhist Ethics, Soft Matter to Classics, and Art History to Globalization. Each volume provides an authoritative and engaging assessment of a concept, field, or body of work, drawing out the central ideas, themes, and approaches. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, new insights, and enthusiasm to make often challenging topics highly readable to develop your core knowledge. With over 700 titles and many more in development, as well as regularly updated new editions, the series is constantly evolving to reflect a contemporary readership. Whatever your area of study, whatever the topic that fascinates you, the series is an indispensable and accessible guide that will enrich your understanding.

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Author Biography

Charles Townshend, Professor of International History Emeritus, Keele University

Charles Townshend is Emeritus Professor of International History at Keele University. He has held fellowships at the National Humanities Center in North Carolina and the Woodrow Wilson International Center in Washington, DC. His most recent books are Easter 1916: the Irish rebellion (2005), When God Made Hell: the British Invasion of Mesopotamia and the Creation of Iraq, 1914-1921 (2010), Desert hell: the British invasion of Mesopotamia (2011), and The Republic: the fight for Irish independence, 1918-1923 (2013).