An intriguing introduction to a notorious and disturbing international phenomenon, The Terrorism Reader draws together material from a variety of experts, clearly explaining their opinions on terrorism, to allow understanding, conjecture and debate. David J. Whittaker explores all aspects of terrorism from its definition, psychological and sociological effects, legal and ethical issues to counter-terrorism. This Reader illustrates the growth and variety of terrorism in an original way with a series of case-studies from four continents This new edition also includes a case study on events in London in July 2005, fully updated chapters on the conflict in the Lebanon in 2006, and two new chapters on terrorism and ethics, and terrorism and the law.
You want to know more why Osama is Osama? Why groups like Baader-Meinhopf, Red Brigade and Sendero Luminoso killed (innocent) people?
Read this book. It's (to me) the gateway to understand the existence of contemporary terrorism. Nicely arranged and compiled making even those with limited knowledge on politics can still grasp the main discourse.
a mess conceptually, i think, because of the inclusion of tyrannicide as part of the early sections. difficult to imagine harmodius & aristogeiton as 'terrorists,' but there it is. perhaps it should serve as a reminder that 'terrorism' is simply the state's official designation of improper violence.
The complexity and misuse of the topic are hammered away at in the first chapter. Once the histories and descriptions of real groups begins, the reader gains some serious knowledge and backgrounds on a lot of names that still make headlines to this day.
Man this guy waffles on; I would read a paragraph, read it again, and still have no idea what point he was trying to put across. Fortunately he includes large excerpts of work from other writers, so you don't have to read too much of his own actual work.