Contemporary Debates on Terrorism

Description

Contemporary Debates on Terrorism is an innovative textbook, addressing a number of key issues in terrorism studies from both traditional and 'critical' perspectives. This second edition has been revised and updated to cover contemporary issues such as the rise of ISIL and cyberterrorism. In recent years, the terrorism studies field has grown in quantity and quality, with a growing number of scholars rooted in various professional disciplines beginning to debate the complex dynamics underlying this category of violence. Within the broader field, there are a number of identifiable controversies and questions which divide scholarly opinion and generate opposing arguments. These relate to theoretical issues, such as the definition of terrorism and state terrorism, substantive issues like the threat posed by al Qaeda/ISIL and the utility of different responses to terrorism, different pathways leading people to engage in terrorist tactics and ethical issues such as the use of drones. This new edition brings together in one place many of the field’s leading scholars to debate the key issues relating to a set of 16 important controversies and questions. The format of the volume involves a leading scholar taking a particular position on the controversy, followed by an opposing or alternative viewpoint written by another scholar. In addition to the pedagogic value of allowing students to read opposing arguments in one place, the volume will also be important for providing an overview of the state of the field and its key lines of debate. This book will be essential reading for students of terrorism studies and political violence, critical terrorism studies, security studies and IR in general. Contents Acknowledgements The editors Notes on contributors Introduction: contemporary debates on terrorism • Daniela Pisoiu and Richard Jackson Part I: The definition and study of terrorism 1 Is terrorism still a useful analytical term, or should it be abandoned? YES: an agreed concept is possible and useful • Anthony Richards NO: a landscape of meaning: constructing understandings of political violence from the broken paradigm of ‘terrorism’ • Dominic Bryan Discussion questions Further readings 2 Is Critical Terrorism Studies a useful approach to the study of terrorism? YES: the necessity of a critical approach • Christopher Baker-Beall NO: don’t give it the oxygen of publicity • Roger Mac Ginty Discussion questions Further readings Part II: Categories of terrorism 3 Is there a ‘new terrorism’ in existence today? YES: the relevance of the ‘new terrorism’ concept • Ersun N. Kurtulus¸ NO: the fallacy of the new terrorism thesis • Isabelle Duyvesteyn and Leena Malkki Discussion questions Further readings 4 Can states be terrorists? YES: terrorism is an equal opportunity tactic • Scott Englund and Michael Stohl NO: state terrorism: who needs it? • Colin Wight Discussion questions Further readings Part III: The terrorism threat 5 Is terrorism a serious threat to international and national security? YES: the continuing threat to state security • James Lutz and Brenda Lutz NO: the myth of terrorism as an existential threat • Jessica Wolfendale Discussion questions Further readings 6 Is WMD terrorism a likely prospect in the future? YES: the impact of CBRN terrorism – a general perspective • Natividad Carpintero-Santamaría NO: WMD terrorism: the prospects • John Mueller Discussion questions Further readings 7 Is cyberterrorism a real threat? YES: why we should start from this assumption • Maura Conway NO: a narrated catastrophe, not a real threat • Myriam Dunn Cavelty Discussion questions Further readings 8 Does al-Qaeda still pose the more significant threat? YES: the enduring al-Qaeda threat: a network perspective • Jeffrey B. Cozzens and Magnus Ranstorp NO: al-Qaeda: a diminishing threat • Lee Jarvis Discussion questions Further readings 9 Are returning foreign fighters future terrorists? YES: returning foreign fighters are future terrorists • Edwin Bakker and Jeanine de Roy van Zuijdewijn NO: terrorists returning home were not radicalised abroad • Richard Bach Jensen and Felix Lippe Discussion questions Notes Further readings Part IV: The causes of terrorism 10 Is terrorism the result of root causes such as poverty and exclusion? YES: how structural factors explain terrorism • Dipak K. Gupta NO: poverty and exclusion are not the root causes of terrorism • Graham R. Huesmann and L. Rowell Huesmann Discussion questions Further readings 11 Is religious extremism a major cause of terrorism? YES: religious extremism as a major cause of terrorism • Amanda Munroe and Fathali M. Moghaddam NO: ‘religious terrorism’ as ideology • Jeff Goodwin Discussion questions Further readings Part VDealing with terrorism 12 Are counterterrorism frameworks based on suppression and military force effective in responding to terrorism? YES: the use of force to combat terrorism • Boaz Ganor NO: wars on terror – learning the lessons of failure • Paul Rogers Discussion questions Further readings 13 Are drones a useful counterterrorism tool? YES: but the means must justify the ends • Christine Sixta Rinehart NO: drones create a perpetual war for perpetual peace • Rory Finegan Discussion questions Further readings 14 Are counter-radicalisation approaches an effective counterterrorist tool? YES: an effective counterterrorism tool • Daniel Koehler NO: a suspect counterterrorism ‘science’ that ignores economic marginalisation, foreign policy and ethics • Charlotte Heath-Kelly Discussion questions Further readings 15 Is mass surveillance a useful tool in the fight against terrorism? YES: keeping us safe now and helping us improve for the future • Jesse P. Lehrke NO: a high-cost, low-reward approach • Ivan Greenberg Discussion questions Further readings 16 Have global efforts to reduce terrorism and political violence since 9/11 been effective? YES: ‘looking for a needle in a stack of needles’ • Mark Cochrane and Gabrielle Nugent NO: ‘using a sledgehammer to crack a nut’ • Rachel Monaghan Discussion questions Further readings References Index