COURSE DESCRIPTION

Since September 11, 2001, people in the United States have been more aware of terrorism. Even though, that was not the first terrorist attack on American soil, it was one that changed how terrorism was viewed in the United States.

Politics and public opinion have influenced what we know about terrorism but for the purpose of this course, the focus is not one what others say about terrorist acts but why did terrorist acts occur. What prompts someone to commit a "terrorist" act? Who defines what is terrorism and what isn't? How do we curb terrorism? Is through new laws?

Is it through tougher investigation? Is it by finding the cause of terrorism and changing that? There are many different topics that will be discussed in the course throughout the semester but the main focus will be on the history of terrorism and the causes that stand at the focus of terrorist acts.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The course has four main objectives:

1. Introduce students to the history of terrorism and the landscape of terrorist groups

2. Familiarize students with the main themes and debates in the academic literature on terrorism

3. Sensitize students to the methodological challenges involved in the study of terrorism

4. Equip students with perspectives and tools to better understand the behavior of terrorist groups

Discussion Questions:

Discussion Question 1

How did the 1972 terrorist attack at Munich change history? (Could it be seen as successful, why or why not?) In your opinion, what ways was it similar to 9/11?

Discussion 2

Winning the War on Terror with Informants?

The United States today has more informants than they have had in any other period in the history of our country. Are the informants helping us win the war on terror or are they helping us look like we are winning the war on terror?

Discussion 3

In the documentary The Gatekeepers one of the most dramatic discussions involve the rise of the right wing among the Israeli settlers in the occupied territories.

Their proliferation and increasing hostility, and the slap-on-the-wrist punishments they received, were an open secret, but their rage was unleashed with the Oslo Accords.

The officers launch the most surprising criticism, against Benjamin Netanyahu, all but blaming him for inciting the killing of Yitzhak Rabin, whose murder by a far-right Israeli extremist changed the way these officers looked at their nation.

Do you think that the new Shin Bet strategies were a positive change and how could the US see these strategies on a way to fight the war on terror?

Discussion 4: Colonialism

Terrorism can be seen as a reaction by those without power against those with power but in the situations as portrayed in the documentary The War Against Colonialism is terrorism justified? Were the means justified by the endings?

Discussion Question 5: If A Tree Falls

There has been some debate even within law-enforcement circles about the use of "terrorist" to describe the acts carried out by the ELF. Would you define their acts as terrorism? Why or why not?

How did this film confirm or challenge your perception of radical environmentalism, law enforcement, and those in the timber industry?

Discussion 6: Taxi to the Darkside

"The likelihood of that [the "ticking time-bomb" scenario] ever happening is so remote ... even if you're in that situation, who's to say that if you beat him up that you're gonna get that information?"

-Jack Cloonan, FBI Special Agent 1977-2002, Counterterrorism Task Force.

How has the "ticking time-bomb" scenario influenced public discourse on torture? Do you believe there is ever a situation extreme enough to justify the use of torture as an interrogation technique? Explain your answer.

Attachment:- Syllabus.rar