Does Counter-Terrorism Work?

Reviews / Votes

A thoughtful and authoritative analysis ... Richard English has dedicated decades to the analysis of terrorism and to governments' efforts to overcome it. Given that the choices made in counter-terrorism policy impact directly upon each of us every day, it is a vitally important area of study. * Ian Cobain, The Observer * A masterful, concise analysis of counter-terrorism by comparing the post-9/11 War on Terror, the modern Northern Ireland Troubles and Israeli practice towards Palestine. ... Does Counter-Terrorism Work? is an acute guide for all who want to understand why the misery inherent in terrorism often cannot be expunged as quickly as we should like. * Hew Bennett, Irish Times * The definitive text on political violence and how states should respond. * Neil Mackay, The Herald * A timely and thorough reassessment of the modern 'war on terror'. * History of War * Exceptionally well-researched...a valuable guide to any government official or lawmaker who must design or oversee counter-terrorism policy... English makes several observations about counter-terrorism that policymakers should consider when they generate and try to oversee the work of those charged with carrying out those policies * Bernard Hudson, Cipher Brief * Richard English addresses a socio-politically relevant topic in his book, one that has not been tackled with such directness and clarity before. He guides readers through his thoughts in understandable language, critically evaluating his own theses with numerous examples. Therefore, the work is worth reading not only for its scholarly interest but also for its numerous excursions into the tactical uncertainties and political decision-making involved in counterterrorism efforts. * Anton Hahn, Portal fuer Politikwissenschaft * Concise [and] compelling * Jacob Stieb, H-DIPLO * The finale of Does Counter-Terrorism Work? is as marked-up with stars and exclamation points as any chapter in any book I can remember reading recently; English's summary comments are exceptionally valuable and could have saved many lives and immense amounts of treasure had they been internalized earlier in my country, in England, in Israel, and in dozens of other countries around the globe that have been afflicted with terrorism. * John A. Nagl, Bustan: The Middle East Book Review * Judicious and thoughtful...fair and balanced, critical without being polemical,...relevant and timely. Part of its argument is that history is important, and I am in complete agreement. * Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow Emerita, Stanford University Professor Emerita, Wesleyan University * This is a judicious and precisely conceptualised approach to a subject as important and elusive as terrorism itself, but seldom examined so carefully. Policymakers and public alike need to understand why some methods are effective and others are the opposite. This book should become the leading study of this dangerously neglected topic. * Charles Townshend, FBA, author of Terrorism: A Very Short Introduction *