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Dying to Win: The Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism
by
Robert Pape
Includes a new Afterword
Finalist for the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Book Award
One of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject of suicide terrorism, the esteemed political scientist Robert Pape has created the first comprehensive database of every suicide terrorist attack in the world from 1980 until today. In Dying to Win, Pape provides a groundbreakin...more
Finalist for the Council on Foreign Relations Arthur Ross Book Award
One of the world’s foremost authorities on the subject of suicide terrorism, the esteemed political scientist Robert Pape has created the first comprehensive database of every suicide terrorist attack in the world from 1980 until today. In Dying to Win, Pape provides a groundbreakin...more
Paperback, 368 pages
Published
July 25th 2006
by Random House Trade Paperbacks
(first published May 24th 2005)
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Robert Pape's study is an important contribution to our understanding of suicide terrorism. He explores the recent evolution and deployment of suicide terrorism as a political tactic.
Some key points: Islamic terrorism is not the only exemplar of suicide terrorism; much suicide terrorism has "popular" support; suicide terrorism is often aimed at forcing occupying forces--especially democracies--to leave the territory that terrorists consider their home territory; perhaps mo...more
Some key points: Islamic terrorism is not the only exemplar of suicide terrorism; much suicide terrorism has "popular" support; suicide terrorism is often aimed at forcing occupying forces--especially democracies--to leave the territory that terrorists consider their home territory; perhaps mo...more
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An academic analysis of the data of post-1983 suicide terrorist attacks, Dying to Win uncovers several crucial inaccurate assumptions about the backgrounds, motives, and support for suicide terrorists, including that it is a strategy confined to Islamist fanatics. Hezbollah is the founding organization for the modern version of this tactic and its effective use of it in Lebanon in 1983, when Reagan cut and ran after announcing we wouldn’t in the wake of the Marine barracks attack and Israel with...more
This book very clearly describes the causes and nature of suicide terrorism: namely, that it is mainly a response to foreign occupation. Specifically, "nationalist rebellion and religious difference between rebels and a dominant democratic state are the main conditions under which the foreign occupation of a community's homeland is likely to lead to a campaign of suicide terrorism as part of a national liberation strategy." Moreover, the majority of suicide terrorists are typically old...more
affad
is currently reading it
So far its slow because the begining chapters just keep repeating this thing over and over again.
However, I am astonished. For some reason, I thought i had spent my entire childhood with this "suicide bombing" in exisistence, however, this book points out that the first such bombing to happen by Hamas was in 1994 which is crazy!
I thought they had been doing it since forever, I am understanding that something strategically changed on the ground for these peopl...more
However, I am astonished. For some reason, I thought i had spent my entire childhood with this "suicide bombing" in exisistence, however, this book points out that the first such bombing to happen by Hamas was in 1994 which is crazy!
I thought they had been doing it since forever, I am understanding that something strategically changed on the ground for these peopl...more
I first of heard of this book by way of the immutable Scott Horton at antiwar.com/radio / http://www.kaosradioaustin.org/station/a...
When I realized that Ron Paul used it as a primary source when he countered the ridiculous claims by Rudy Guiliani that "they hate us for our freedoms" and over-used anti-logic about Islamic fundamentalism.
Well researched and well presented prose details a picture that many of glaze over in the haze of media propaganda. I had so...more
When I realized that Ron Paul used it as a primary source when he countered the ridiculous claims by Rudy Guiliani that "they hate us for our freedoms" and over-used anti-logic about Islamic fundamentalism.
Well researched and well presented prose details a picture that many of glaze over in the haze of media propaganda. I had so...more
Steven
added it
Good insight into the evolving tactic of suicide bombers. Started with Tamil Tigers not in the Middle East, which shows terror groups learn and evolve.
I've read about half of this text book as well, and it really makes you think. There is some great information in here, and some good ideas.
A must read for anyone concerned about or interested in the War on Terror
enlightening read, particularly for those with a lean historical knowledge of world politics. occasionally redundant, but backed by solid research and facts.
Slightly redundant and textbookish, but overall very illuminating.
Calista
marked it as to-read
i still cant find this book
Great work and a good overall study of the topic which I was happy to see covered more than simply the provincial view who terrorists are. This work provides a history of suicide terrorism and a detailed study of all groups presently doing so. I think the work could have used some stronger arguments, but if one is reading this work along with other works, the information found in here is extremely useful.
This book examines the known facts about suicide terrorism, using data about suicide bombers ages, social class, education and motivation. Pape offers convincing evidence that suicide bombers are not, as a rule, motivated by desperate personal circumstances but by military or economic occupation or domination of their territory. An excellent read, and a must-read book if we want to truly deal with terrorism.
Suicide terrorists are not mostly Muslim, and they don't all do it because of religious reasons. Rather, the motives are more nationalistic and sophisticated than we think, and are often part of a larger campaign. Fascinating and accurate account of every single known suicide bombing attack in recent history and their effect on society. It's hard being the only one to have read this book.
A look at suicide terrorism around the world. Pape attempts a very scientific, unemotional approach to suicide terrorism based on suicide bombing statistics that he has compiled. The information presented is interesting and can be surprising, but the book gets repetitive at times. Some might not like his emotional detachment from suicide terrorists and their victims.
So far, more evidence that we don't get attacked because they hate our freedom, but because we occupy their territories. Other suicide campaigns around the world do the same to their occupiers. As of 2003, the Liberation Tamil Tigers of Sri Lanka carry out the most suicide bombings. Interesting question, "Were the Kamikazi's of Japan terrorists?"
A significant econometric analysis of suicide terrorism. Comes to some very interesting conclusions. I dont agree with Pape's conceptual argument surrounding the quantitative research, I feel that it can be supplemented and explained in a better way, it is still a very good read and has a lot of explanatory powers.
Snowdon
added it
a view into suicide terrorism, its hisory, and the groups and motivations into those who use it as a weapon. surprisingly, it seems that nationalism, not religion, plays the biggest part in motivation. religion is used as and indoctrinating force, but is not the underlying reasoning for it.
A groundbreaking demographic profile of modern suicide terrorist attackers that serves as a needed counterpoint to the conventional identification process. Fact-based, not at all politically motivated.
Fascinating statistical analysis of suicide bombers. Pape concludes that suicide bombers are not irrational zealots, but strategic thinkers for a cause...and that their strategy has in fact been successful.
Does anyone else feel like the episode of South Park satirizing Jersey Shore was using the logic presented in Pape's book?
Professor's crackpot theory on the origins of terrorism (blaming their victims) that holds no water.
Fascinating study of suicide terrorism.
Interesting and scary!
Kendall
marked it as to-read
Ahmed Zakaria
marked it as to-read
Cory
marked it as to-read
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