Synopses & Reviews
The attacks of September 11, 2001, thrust terrorism to the forefront of critical issues facing the contemporary world and caused Americans to stop thinking of terrorist acts as rare, isolated events. This timely, accessible book examines the phenomenon of terrorism, discussing the methods, tactics, and weapons used by terrorists and exploring the attraction that terrorism holds for many individuals, groups, and movements. Whether seeking to learn more about a specific terrorist group or act, researching the potential use of weapons of mass destruction by terrorists, or searching for primary documents on the subject this is an essential resource.
The book begins by defining terrorism and exploring the ruthless philosophy that underlies it. It provides a narrative history and chronology of world terrorism; describes the most important terrorist groups, both past and present; and details four historically important terrorist acts—a 1906 lynching in Tennessee, a massive flaunting of power by the Ku Klux Klan from 1915 to 1925, Black September's attack on Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972, and the traumatic events of September 11, 2001—that illustrate the key strategies that terrorists employ and the wide range of goals that motivates them. It also includes a number of significant primary documents, ranging from official government overviews of the terrorist threat and international agreements related to terrorism, to presidential declarations on the subject and statements issued by terrorists themselves, in which they attempt to clarify their own motivations and intentions.
Review
As befits an introductory work of this kind, these chapters are short, broadly informative, and the writing clear and accessible. In the course of them Kronenwetter also raises interesting questions about how the boundaries of legitimate and illegitimate violence are to be policed, about how much responsibility ordinary "innocent" citizens of representative democracies should take for the violent actions of their governments, and about the romantic attraction of the terrorist figure as rebel and outlaw, questions that might provide a useful starting point for classroom discussions on the subject.H-Amstdy
Review
[U]seful for secondary students and the general public seeking an accesible overview as well as highlights of the subject. It is recommended for high-school and public public libraries.Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
Review
Kronenwetter's work is a useful tool for the thoughtful, mature student who want to study terrorism beyond the headlines. The chronology of terrorist events serves as a springboard for further research. Recommended.Library Media Connection
Synopsis
Provides a much-needed realistic perspective on the nation's leading hot-button issue, focusing on the purposes underlying terrorist acts and the methods and tactics terrorists use to achieve their goals.
About the Author
MICHAEL KRONENWETTER is an independent author. He has written many books on U.S. history and social issues, including Encyclopedia of Modern American Social Issues, Capital Punishment: A Reference Handbook, America in the 1960s, and How Democratic Is the United States?
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Philosophy of Terror
A Short History of Terrorism
Turning to Terror
Varieties of Terror
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Their Name Is Legion: A Selection of Terrorist Groups
Four Aspects of Terror
Chronology
Documents
Bibliography