Synopses & Reviews
Praise for the first edition:
a clear and accessible survey of terrorists motives and methods, strengthened by tables, and helpful chronologies from 1968 to the present The Economist
There is a need for a clear, concise introduction to terrorism
David Whittaker has provided us with just that. Peter Hylarides, Contemporary Review
Today, terrorism is everyones concern. Although it is not a new phenomenon there have been more than 8,000 attacks over the past thirty years - the scale and seemingly indiscriminate nature of terrorist incidents have escalated in recent years. 9/11 and 7/7 are dates now engraved in the minds of millions, dates that have become a short-hand pointing to the consequences of political instability of the modern world.
In this new edition of Terrorism: Understanding the Global Threat, David J. Whittaker explores terrorist scenarios across the globe, from Northern Ireland to the United States. He considers terrorisms causes and characteristics, taking on topics as diverse as religious fanaticism, global diffusion, terrorist financing and the possibility of biological attack. He also investigates the successes, failures and possible futures of counter-terrorism.
By untangling difficulties of definition and dispelling simplistic notions of what terrorism means, he shows that both word and action have changed over time, and that its meaning is different for every user, whether onlooker, victim, goverment authority or the terrorists themselves.
David J. Whittaker is a retired university lecturer and prolific author. His recent titles include Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Contemporary World (2005), The Terrorism Reader (2002), and Conflict and Reconciliation in the Contemporary World (1999).
Review
a clear and accessible survey of terrorists motives and methods, strengthened by several tables, and helpful chronologies from 1968 to the present
The Economist
Synopsis
What is terrorism and where does it come from? Who are the people who perpetrate terror? What are their motives? Terrorism is now everybody's major and constant fear. This easy-to-read, concise account of terrorism provides the essential global guide to understanding what the threat is and exactly where it comes from. Without this knowledge, argues David Whittaker, there can be no way forward in prevention and control. The book looks in particular at how terrorism has shaped and been shaped by the past half century, the driving forces behind it, the methods, the psychology and the money.
Originally written in the aftermath of September 11, the book has now been updated to reflect how our understanding of and reaction to terrorism has moved on in the past few years. The Where to Find Out More section at the end will also be thoroughly updated to include recent websites and publications on the subject.
Synopsis
This is an accessible account of the concept of terrorism, specifically looking at how it has shaped and been shaped over the past fifty years.
- Topical - terrorism is the most urgent international theme of today and tomorrow
About the Author
David Whittaker is the author of The Terrorism Reader (2002).
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1 The meaning of terrorism
2 New York and Washington, Madrid, London
3 Terrorism around the world
4 Motives for terrorism
5 Terrorism and religion
6 Fanatics and martyrs
7 Terrorist methods
8 Future types of terrorism
9 Counter-terrorism: the piecemeal approach
10 Terrorism: international efforts to defeat it
Where to find out more
Index