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Terrorism, Talking and Transformation: A Critical Approach
Using rare field research, this book investigates whether and how talking may transform terrorist violence.Given the failings of today's dominant counterterrorism strategy, is talking a viable policy option to transform conflicts marked by terrorist violence? This book examines the reasons why negotiating with terrorists is so often shunned by decision-makers and scholars as a policy response, concluding that such objections are primarily based on a realist and statist understanding of terrorism that has dominated the field so far.Based on interviews with top rebel and military commanders in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao and interviewing key actors in Northern Ireland, Terrorism, Talking and Transformation investigates how talking may contribute to the transformation of conflicts marked by terrorist violence. The result of this analysis is a theoretically grounded, empirically recognizable and emancipation oriented framework that can be used to investigate the potential of talking in transforming not only terrorist (and counterterrorist) violence, but also the underlying structural violence that often surrounds it.This book will be of much interest to students in the fields of terrorism studies, security studies, Southeast Asian studies, conflict resolution/transformation and IR in general, and of use to practitioners in the field.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
March 6, 2016
Toros's book about how talking can help in situations of conflict and violence, violence characterized by terrorist actions, on top of the structural, personal, economical, religious... one, is a very interesting and smart book about how our world works, even if it can't but have some shortcomings.
The book can be cut in two. In the first, she explains the theory, and in the second, she goes to the field, explaining how that theory works agains real cases (North Ireland and Philippine's terrorist groups IRA and MILF). In both cases there's more than just meet the eye, as you have religion, history, economics, desire for autonomy and/or independence... Both cases are quite complicated.
The first part is an amazing explanation behind the theory that talking (not negotiating) can help in situations of conflict and violence. Toros does a great job on explaining all the basics, on making the interrelations and on making it clear how it works, and how it may not work, how violence may bring talking and the other way around, and how it's impossible to say that just talking may bring a solution to any conflict. Here references are, of course, top-notch (you have all your Booths, and extended family there) and if you are interested in IR, Peace & Conflict, etc., this is going to help you understand a couple of things.
The second part is a little bit weaker. You would expect that the theory would florish with the real cases, but Toros is better at explaining the theory than the real cases. That doesn't mean she messes it up, no, you will understand what she is trying to achive and you will learn a lot to. But she becomes a little bit repetitive, and you can't but help that she is a little bit of an optimistic. Which is good (and she doesn't deny that situations may change; she is quite realistic too), but she is happy to defend her ideas, at which she is great. If you started the book with the desire to trash her opinions and theories, you are in for a disappointment.
Great book, on a timely subject. If just more people read this kind of books...
7/10
The book can be cut in two. In the first, she explains the theory, and in the second, she goes to the field, explaining how that theory works agains real cases (North Ireland and Philippine's terrorist groups IRA and MILF). In both cases there's more than just meet the eye, as you have religion, history, economics, desire for autonomy and/or independence... Both cases are quite complicated.
The first part is an amazing explanation behind the theory that talking (not negotiating) can help in situations of conflict and violence. Toros does a great job on explaining all the basics, on making the interrelations and on making it clear how it works, and how it may not work, how violence may bring talking and the other way around, and how it's impossible to say that just talking may bring a solution to any conflict. Here references are, of course, top-notch (you have all your Booths, and extended family there) and if you are interested in IR, Peace & Conflict, etc., this is going to help you understand a couple of things.
The second part is a little bit weaker. You would expect that the theory would florish with the real cases, but Toros is better at explaining the theory than the real cases. That doesn't mean she messes it up, no, you will understand what she is trying to achive and you will learn a lot to. But she becomes a little bit repetitive, and you can't but help that she is a little bit of an optimistic. Which is good (and she doesn't deny that situations may change; she is quite realistic too), but she is happy to defend her ideas, at which she is great. If you started the book with the desire to trash her opinions and theories, you are in for a disappointment.
Great book, on a timely subject. If just more people read this kind of books...
7/10
Displaying 1 of 1 review