Inside Terrorism (Hardcover), by Bruce Hoffman, Columbia University Press; revised and expanded edition edition (May 9, 2006).
Bruce Hoffman, the director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, has written a clear summary of some of the major historical trends in international terrorism. He makes careful distinctions between the motivations that drive political (or ethno-nationalist) terrorism and religious terrorism, and he also shows why the rise of religious terrorism, coupled with the increased availability of weapons of mass destruction, may foretell an era of even greater violence. In the past, Hoffman argues, the main goal of the terrorist was not to kill, but to attract media attention to his cause in the hope of initiating reform. "For the religious terrorist," however, "violence is first and foremost a sacramental act or divine duty executed in direct response to some theological demand or imperative ... religious terrorists see themselves not as components of a system worth preserving but as 'outsiders,' seeking fundamental changes in the existing order." Hoffman does not "choose sides" in this framework, pointing to the bombings of the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City and to the sarin nerve gas attacks in Tokyo in order to demonstrate that fundamentalists of any religious denomination are capable of extreme acts of terrorism. Information

Origins of Terrorism: Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind (Paperback), by Walter Reich (Author), Walter Laqueur, Woodrow Wilson Center Press; 1 edition (September 18, 1998). Information

Playing Politics with Terrorism: A User's Guide (Columbia/Hurst) (Hardcover), by George Kassimeris (Editor). Today more than ever, governments are determined to protect the public by rooting out terrorists and bringing them to justice, but in dealing with extremism, governments often violate citizens' individual civil liberties. In their zeal to attack terrorism and preserve domestic security, governments pass laws that violate basic freedoms and privacies and undermine the support of the public.
To avoid hysteria and unwise policymaking, both citizens and officials need to rely on fact and sound judgment and remain skeptical of political propaganda. In this collection, scholars demonstrate that the realities of our post-9/11 world are not necessarily new. Many governments, from Putin's Russia and Fujimori's Peru to Italy in the 1970s have at times repressed the very liberty and democratic freedoms terrorists seek to destroy. Essays address the use of terrorist threat to sustain a credible anti-terrorist narrative, sway public opinion, and push through draconian legislation. For the most part, the contributors remain sympathetic to the efforts made by states to protect their citizenry; however, they encourage awareness and vigilance to prevent the wholesale exploitation of the fundamental rights of a democracy. Information

Psychology of Terrorism (Hardcover), by Bruce Bongar, Lisa M. Brown, Larry E. Beutler, James N. Breckenridge, Philip G. Zimbardo (Editors). During the past decade, we have witnessed a dramatic transformation in the nature and uses of terrorism. In the 70s, it was often repeated that terrorists "want a lot of people watching, not a lot of people dead"; today, it is more accurate to say that terrorists want a lot of people dead, and even more people crippled by fear and grief. A major strategic intent of modern terrorists is to use larger scale physical attacks to cause stress in the general population. These changes in terrorist strategy have made it clear that we need better psychological and social responses to terrorism and man-made disasters. The psychological science needed to provide proper and effective treatment for victims of horrendous events, such as September 11th, and future potential terrorist acts, simply does not exist, so military, medical, and psychological experts must work together to improve their understanding of mass casualty terrorism. In Psychology of Terrorism leading national and international experts present the first results of this effort, including the newest findings on treatment of and clinical responses to terrorism along with their respective underlying theories. They address the history of terrorism; types and effects of weapons of mass destruction or disruption; the role of the military, government agencies, and volunteer groups in responding to terrorist threats; psychological consequences of terrorism; and treatment of special populations such as children and older adults. This volume will be an ideal text for both academic and professional courses as well as a comprehensive resource for mental health clinicians and researchers, medical care providers, educators, public health specialists, government employees, police and fire departments, and non-profit agencies that provide services and craft policy. Information.

Root Causes of Terrorism: Myths, Reality and Ways Forward (Paperback), by Tore Bjorgo. What are the main factors and circumstances that give rise to terrorism? This is a question commonly addressed in political discourse on terrorism and is considered an alternative to dealing with terrorism through military force. However, there have been surprisingly few attempts to analyze the causes of terrorism in a book format. Information.

Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism: The Globalization of Martyrdom (Political Violence) (Hardcover), by Ami Pedazhur. Suicide terrorism in its modern form appeared in the 1980s. The first organization to use this strategy was the Shi'ite Hizbollah in Lebanon. Later, it was adopted by many terrorist organizations in the Middle East and Asia. This new study shows how there are at least two reasons to question the central role that is assigned to religion and more specifically Islam when explaining suicide terrorism. First, suicide terrorism is a modern phenomenon, yet Islam is a very old religion. Except for two periods in the 12th and 18th centuries, suicide was never part of Islamist beliefs and behaviors. Actually, Islam clearly forbids suicide. Hence, the argument that Islamic religious beliefs are the main cause of suicide terrorism is inherently dubious. Second, many suicide attacks have been carried out by secular organizations with little connection to fundamentalist Islam: Palestinian Fatah, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Kurdish Workers Party. Moreover, one of the organizations that has employed this strategy devastatingly and regularly is the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam). Not only are members of this organization not Muslim, most of them are not religious at all. Information

Suicide Terrorism (Hardcover), by Ami Pedahzur. Suicide terrorism in its modern form made its first appearance in Lebanon in the early 1980s. Over the last quarter century, terrorist attacks perpetrated by suicide bombers have spread to many corners of the world and have become a major threat for both the governments and citizens of numerous countries. Can this devastating phenomenon be attributed to a specific religion or culture? What are the causes and motivations that lead ordinary people to embark upon suicide attacks? How are potential bombers trained for their mission? And is it possible for democratic governments to effectively cope with this challenge? In this compelling book, Ami Pedazhur investigates the root causes of suicide terrorism and its rapid proliferation in recent years. Drawing on a variety of sources, the book explores the use of human bombs in Lebanon, Israel, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Chechnya, Iraq, and the ostentatious attacks of Al-Qaeda and the global jihad. It is the only book to offer such an in-depth, up-to-date, cross cultural analysis of suicide terrorism in the twenty-first Century. Information

Root Causes of Terrorism: Myths, Reality and Ways Forward (Paperback), by Tore Bjorgo, Routledge; 1 edition (December 5, 2005).
What are the main factors and circumstances that give rise to terrorism? This is a question commonly addressed in political discourse on terrorism and is considered an alternative to dealing with terrorism through military force. However, there have been surprisingly few attempts to analyze the causes of terrorism in a book format. Written by a team of leading international experts, this book provides a sophisticated analysis of one of the most pressing issues facing the world today and is essential reading for those with a research and professional interest in Terrorism and Security Studies. Information

Terrorism, Asymmetric Warfare, and Weapons of Mass Destruction: Defending the U.S. Homeland (CSIS) (Hardcover), by Anthony H. Cordesman.  There is a wide spectrum of potential threats to the U.S. homeland that do not involve overt attacks by states using long-range missiles or conventional military forces. Such threats include covert attacks by state actors, state use of proxies, independent terrorist and extremist attacks by foreign groups or individuals, and independent terrorist and extremist attacks by residents of the United States. These threats are currently limited in scope and frequency, but are emerging as potentially significant issues for future U.S. security. In this comprehensive work, Cordesman argues that new threats require new thinking, and offers a range of recommendations, from expanding the understanding of what constitutes a threat and bolstering Homeland defense measures, to bettering resource allocation and improving intelligence gathering and analysis. No pattern of actual attacks on U.S. territory has yet emerged that provides a clear basis for predicting how serious any given form of attack might be in the future, what means of attack might be used, or how lethal new forms of attack might be. As a result, there is a major ongoing debate over the seriousness of the threat and how the U.S. government should react. This work is an invaluable contribution to that debate. Information.

Terrorism in Perspective (Paperback), by Susan G. Mahan and Pamala L. Griset. The Second Edition of Terrorism in Perspective, like its successful predecessor, takes a broad-based approach that emphasizes the historical, political, religious, social, and economic perceptions that underlie an understanding of both global and domestic terrorism. This unique text-reader combines original essays with the best of the existing literature on terrorism. Using a conceptual scheme that focuses on acts of terrorism and their relationship to culture, religion, history, politics, economics, and ideology, the chapters of this text begin with a 10-15 page overview followed by two relevant and engaging articles culled from a wide variety of popular, academic, and governmental sources. This is the only major terrorism text to incorporate readings from top terrorism experts into a traditional textbook format. Information.

Terrorism in the 21st Century (4th Edition) (Paperback), by Cynthia C. Combs.   Post-cold war in focus and Unbiased in perspective, this book makes clear not only what terrorism is, and has been, but also what it may be like in this new century. Using clear, careful explanations of concepts and case studies of real events (including Sept. 11), it makes this multidimensional, complex and emotionally-tinged phenomena accessible and understandable to those with no scholarly background in the subject. It 1) examines the known facets of contemporary terrorism—explaining what terrorism is, who carries it out, and how terrorist acts are committed; 2) analyzes the laws and special forces which nations within the international community have created to meet this challenge; and 3) predicts forthcoming patterns of terrorism in the new century. An Idea Whose Time Has Come? Not a Modern Phenomenon. Ideology and Terrorism: Rights from Wrongs. Criminals or Crusaders? Terrorism By The State. “Terrorism, Inc.” Terrorist Training. The Media: Another Weapon for Both Sides? Domestic Terrorism in the U.S.: Challenge to Democracies. Legal Perspectives on Terrorism. Counterterrorism: The Use of Special Forces. Terrorism, Intelligence, and the Law. Security Measures: A Frail Defense. Post-Cold War Trends. Future Prospects. For law enforcement personnel, special police anti-terror units, military personal, and anyone interested in understanding terrorism. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. Information.

Terrorism Today: The Past, The Players, The Future (3rd Edition) (Hardcover), by Clifford E. Simonsen (Author), Jeremy R. Spindlove. The authors draw from more than 40 years of both academic and professional military experience to present a comprehensive look at the history, current activity and future implications of Terrorism worldwide. This newly revised edition brings the latest developments to life through practical examples, detailed maps and terrorism briefs to help readers visualize the locations and the players involved in terrorism and counterterrorism. Defines Terrorism and associated legal issues. Covers the complex history and motives behind the behavior. Discusses different types of terrorists, ranging from poorly organized groups of fanatics or dissidents with conflicting goals to the more highly organized emerging cells. Provides a clear overview of the many sectors and operations that comprise terrorism and counterterrorism and explores terrorist activity in the U.S. and around the world. Discusses counter measures and explores the war on terror and the past, present and future implications. For anyone in law enforcement, criminal justice, criminology, justice administration, security, sociology, or political science. Information

Terrorists, Victims and Society: Psychological Perspectives on Terrorism and its Consequences (Wiley Series in Psychology of Crime, Policing and Law) (Paperback), by Andrew Silke. In today's climate, these is a powerful need for a balanced, expert and accessible account of the psychology of terrorists and terrorism.Written by an expert team of psychologists and psychiatrists, these contributors have direct experience of working with terrorists, victims and those tasked with the enormous responsibility of attempting to combat terrorism. Information

The 9/11 Commission Report: Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (Indexed Hardcover, Authorized Edition) (Hardcover), by National Commission on Terrorist Attacks, W. W. Norton & Company; Authorized Ed., 1st Ed edition (August 31, 2004).
The result of months of intensive investigations and inquiries by a specially appointed bipartisan panel, The 9/11 Commission Report is one of the most important historical documents of the modern era. And while that fact alone makes it worth owning, it is also a chilling and valuable piece of nonfiction: a comprehensive and alarming look at one of the biggest intelligence failures in history and the events that led up to it. The commission traces the roots of al-Qaeda's strategies along with the emergence of the 19 hijackers and how they entered the United States and boarded airplanes. It details the missed opportunities of law enforcement officials to avert disaster. Using transcripts of cockpit voice recordings, the report describes events on board the planes along with the chaotic reaction on the ground from nearly every level of government. Going forward, the commission calls for a comprehensive overhaul of what it sees as a deeply flawed and disjointed intelligence-gathering operation. The creation of a post for a single National Security Director is recommended, along with the creation of a National Counterterrorism Center. The report finds fault with the approaches of both the Clinton and Bush administrations but, because they were a bipartisan panel and the problems described are so systemic and far-reaching, they stop short of assigning blame to any particular person or group. Credit must be given to how readable the report is. At more than 500 pages, the writing is clear and forceful and the information is made more accessible since it is free from election politics and rancor. While the commission notes that future attacks are probably inevitable, a coordinated preventive effort along with a clear plan to respond with efficiency can offer Americans some hope in a post-9/11 world. Information

The History of Terrorism: From Antiquity to al Qaeda (Paperback), by Gérard Chaliand (Editor), Arnaud Blin (Editor), University of California Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2007).
This authoritative work provides an essential perspective on terrorism by offering a rare opportunity for analysis and reflection at a time of ongoing violence, chilling threats, and renewed reprisals. In it, some of the best international specialists working on the subject today examine terrorism's long and complex history from antiquity to the present day and find that terror, long the weapon of the weak against the strong, is a tactic as old as warfare itself. Beginning with the Zealots of Antiquity, the contributors discuss the Assassins of the Middle Ages, the 1789 Terror movement in Europe, Bolshevik terrorism during the Russian Revolution, Stalinism, "resistance" terrorism during World War II, and Latin American revolutionary movements of the late 1960s. Finally, they consider the emergence of modern transnational terrorism, focusing on the roots of Islamic terrorism, al Qaeda, and the rise of the contemporary suicide martyr. Along the way, they provide a groundbreaking analysis of how terrorism has been perceived throughout history. What becomes powerfully clear is that only through deeper understanding can we fully grasp the present dangers of a phenomenon whose repercussions are far from over. Information

The New Global Terrorism: Characteristics, Causes, Controls (Paperback), by Charles W. Kegley. This book comprehensively covers the debatable issues regarding the post-September 11th wave of terrorism, the multiple roots of this deadly new form of international violence, and the leading ideas being considered as means for the “war on global terrorism” to be won. Informed and informative interpretations, written by the world's most authoritative scholars especially for this book, present a balanced and accessible set of essays and chapters describing the new international terrain that has emerged in the wake of 9-11. A three-part organization breaks the subject of global terrorism into three categories of analysis, and demonstrates to readers that how terrorism is defined will shape the conclusions that are reached about its causes and remedies. For analyzing present and future acts of terrorism, creating awareness of the obstacles to accurately understanding it, and consideration of the strategies for containing the destructiveness of this deadly phenomena. Information

Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (Paperback), by Clarence Augustus Martin, Sage Publications, Inc; Second Edition edition (February 17, 2006).  Information

Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (Paperback), by Clarence Augustus Martin.  Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues," Second Edition, by C. Augustus "Gus" Martin, over 14 Chapters, addresses terrorism from multiple perspectives: the political right and left, state and non-state, religious and secular, criminal and non-criminal. Each chapter is supported by end notes and the book contains an appendix for maps, one for historical examples, and a glossary/index. Information

Understanding Terrorism: Groups, Strategies, and Responses (2nd Edition) (Paperback), by James M. Poland. This book is written for criminal justice and social science students, professionals in the criminal justice system, and any student wishing to gain more information on the phenomenon of "terrorism." It explores the various analytical approaches to the study of terrorism: identifying terrorist groups, reviewing terrorist tactics such as suicide bombings, and examining police and governmental responses to reduce or control the incidence of terrorism. The greatest danger today comes from religiously inspired terrorist groups seeking the destruction of noncombatant targets using weapons of mass destruction. Information

Writing the War on Terrorism: Language, Politics and Counter-terrorism (New Approaches to Conflict Analysis) (Hardcover), by Richard Jackson, Manchester University Press (August 11, 2005).
'Writing the war on terrorism' examines the public language of the war on terrorism, and the way that rhetoric has been used to justify the global counter-terrorism offensive as a response to 9/11. It discusses how language has been used to deliberately manipulate public anxiety about terrorist threats to gain support for military action, and how the abuse of Iraqi prisoners has been normalised through rhetoric and practice. The author argues that the normalisation and institutionalisation of the administration's current counter-terrorism approach is damaging to society's ethical values and to democratic political participation. Information

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