Terrorism (Elgar Mini Series) - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1843760649 ISBN 13: 9781843760641

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005

Synopsis

'Rosemary O'Kane's collection provides a unique and invaluable service. She shows that systematic academic studies of the use of terror started over 50 years ago, that they have encompassed regimes of terror as well as non-state terrorism, and that scholars analysing problems of democratic response to terrorism have constantly warned against the twin perils of over-reaction, which undermines democracy and human rights of law, and under-reaction, which would allow the terrorists to threaten public security and the rule of law. It should be on the booklists for all serious courses in terrorism studies.'
- Paul Wilkinson, University of St. Andrews, UK

This two-volume set presents a comprehensive selection of some of the most significant published papers and articles on terrorism.

The collection examines terrorism from a variety of perspectives, including state terror. Beginning with a section on concepts of terrorism, it first considers the causes and nature of regimes of terror. It then concentrates on terrorist groups in society and in a search for explanations, it investigates the relationship between terrorism and religion, the underlying causes for the rise of terrorist groups and the relation of these groups to new social movements. Psychological and rational choice explanations are also explored. Several articles study the organization of terrorist groups and their strategy and tactics. A final section deals with methods of counteracting terrorism.

The editor has written an authoritative introduction which highlights the centrality to terrorism of the killing of innocents and draws important lessons from the topics covered in the collection.

46 articles, dating from 1964 to 2002
Contributors include: M. Crenshaw, D. della Porta, V. Moghadam, J.M. Post, D.C. Rapoport, A. Rathbone, C. Rowley, T. Sandler, E.V. Walter, P. Wilkinson

About this title

From the Back Cover:

So you think you know what makes the world go round? Read about the ideas that revolutionized the twentieth century.

The twentieth century was a period of seismic change on a global scale, witnessing two world wars, the rise and fall of communism, the establishment of a global economy, the beginnings of global warming and a complete reversal in the status of women in large parts of the world.

Many of these changes were brought about thanks to "big ideas" that irrevocably altered the way humans viewed their world. Short Histories of Big Ideas are brief, easy-to-understand introductions to the concepts that shaped the twentieth century. Each volume explains the key aspects of an idea and provides a concise history of its growth and influence on our world perspective.

"Sweeping in its historical overview and authoritative in its scholarship, O'Kane's latest book is an excellent introduction to the complex and multifaceted phenomenon that is terrorism. Written in an engaging and student-friendly style, ... this will be a core text book for students in the areas of terrorism studies and conflict ... this book is a concise, authoritative and invaluable introduction and guide." Dr John Barry; Queens University Belfast.  

What different forms does terrorism take and what do they have in common?

 

Explosives carried in the rucksack. A bomb under a park bench. A hi-jacked aeroplane. Today these images of terrorism are broadcast into our homes. Terrorism itself embodies far more than this, however.  Those who create terror are not just organizations such as al Qaeda and ETA but also states and repressive governing regimes.

 

Spanning 2000 years and 3 different continents, Rosemary H.T. O’Kane explores terrorism in all its forms: terrorist groups, ancient and modern, religious, political, separatist and nationalist, arising within liberal democracies and under repressive regimes, engaging in domestic, international and transnational terrorism; revolutionary reigns of terror; totalitarian regimes; state terrorism, including massacres and genocidal campaigns; and international state terrorism.

 

Case studies are included and explanations are explored for each of these many terrorisms. No matter the form, however, the method remains essentially the same - a system of summary justice: in its essence the deliberate targeting of innocents as victims.

 

Rosemary H. T. O’Kane is Professor of Comparative Political Theory at Keele University. She has written widely on the subject of terrorism in both books and journals. Her books include The Likelihood of Coups (1987), Terror, Force and States: The Path From Modernity (Edward Elgar: 1996) and Paths to Democracy: Revolution and Totalitarianism (Routledge: 2004). Her book The Revolutionary Reign of Terror: The Role of Violence in Political Change (1991) won the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Book for 1993.

About the Author:

Edited byRosemary H.T. O'Kane, Professor of Comparative Political Theory, School of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy (SPIRE), Keele University, UK

About this edition

• Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 1843760649
• ISBN 13: 9781843760641
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 984
• Editor: O’Kane Rosemary H.T.