Understanding Terrorism
Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues
2nd Edition
Published on 4. April 2006
Book
Paperback/Softback
696 pages
978-1-4129-2722-2 (ISBN)
Description
Praise for the First Edition:
`I am very favorably impressed with this book. The author is well informed and an excellent writer. The recommended readings, Web sites, boxes, tables and the like provide very attractive features. There is an abundance of very good historical and current examples. I would adopt this book for my courses and look forward to its publication' - Frank Hagan, Mercyhurst College
Understanding Terrorism, Second Edition, is a uniquely comprehensive exploration of contemporary terrorism, suitable for professional as well as for academic courses of instruction. It incorporates key topics as well as discussion boxes and Web exercises intended to stimulate critical thinking in readers - a true "one-stop shop" for gaining an understanding of the field.
New to the Second Edition:
- new chapters on religious terrorism, a consolidated chapter on ideological terrorism, and a new chapter on two cutting-edge topics: gender-focused political violence and the nexus between criminal enterprises and terrorist violence;
- a resource Website devoted to the book to enhance learning;
- introductory `opening viewpoints in each chapter to give an overview of the concepts explored within.
Understanding Terrorism is one of the first core studies on the subject of terrorism, offering a comprehensive review of the events, ideas, motivations and histories that result in terrorist activity, as well as an examination of the theories helping to explain such activity.
`I am very favorably impressed with this book. The author is well informed and an excellent writer. The recommended readings, Web sites, boxes, tables and the like provide very attractive features. There is an abundance of very good historical and current examples. I would adopt this book for my courses and look forward to its publication' - Frank Hagan, Mercyhurst College
Understanding Terrorism, Second Edition, is a uniquely comprehensive exploration of contemporary terrorism, suitable for professional as well as for academic courses of instruction. It incorporates key topics as well as discussion boxes and Web exercises intended to stimulate critical thinking in readers - a true "one-stop shop" for gaining an understanding of the field.
New to the Second Edition:
- new chapters on religious terrorism, a consolidated chapter on ideological terrorism, and a new chapter on two cutting-edge topics: gender-focused political violence and the nexus between criminal enterprises and terrorist violence;
- a resource Website devoted to the book to enhance learning;
- introductory `opening viewpoints in each chapter to give an overview of the concepts explored within.
Understanding Terrorism is one of the first core studies on the subject of terrorism, offering a comprehensive review of the events, ideas, motivations and histories that result in terrorist activity, as well as an examination of the theories helping to explain such activity.
Reviews / Votes
The updated Second Edition of Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues is an excellent purchase for both college-level reference holdings and for assigned reading for college-level courses on social issues. Added here is a new chapter on religious terrorism, reviews of new material on gender terrorism and criminal businesses, updates on pedagogy, and a format which includes test questions, amps from the book, and more on both a CD-ROM and an accompanying web site. Plenty of examples from events around the world pepper surveys which cover the politics, economics, and social foundations of international terrorist experiences. -- CALIFORNIA BOOKWATCH "The best stand-alone text for university courses." -- Maryann Batsakis "Gus Martin's Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues is the best stand alone comprehensive textbook for university courses. Its 696 pages cover the spectrum of all issues involved in studying terrorism . . . Each chapter is organized pedagogically, with opposing viewpoints and issues for classroom discussion." -- Dr. Joshua Sinai "Understanding Terrorism sets the standard as a textbook and baseline for anyone who desires to increase their real world knowledge of terrorism. It is an enlightening piece to a most difficult puzzle." -- Major General Jack A. Davis "Let me say that this book is one of the most comprehensive works on the matter that I have ever had the pleasure of reading." -- Timothy N. Cash "Gus Martin's Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (Second Edition) is one of the finest stand-alone, comprehensive textbooks for university courses. Each chapter is organized pedagogically, with opposing viewpoints and issues for classroom discussion." -- Joshua Sinai * ForeWord *More details
Edition
2nd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Weight
970 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4129-2722-2 (9781412927222)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
03/2009
3rd Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€73.22
Article is exhausted, reprint undefined
Previous edition
Book
04/2003
1st Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€53.41
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Person
Clarence Augustus "Gus" Martin is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Criminal Justice Administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he teaches courses on criminal law, terrorism and extremism, and the criminal justice system. He served as the founding Chair of the department and as the founding Director of the School of Public Service and Justice. He also served as Associate Vice President for Human Resources Management, Acting Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration and Public Policy, Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs, and Chair of the Department of Public Administration. He began his academic career as a member of the faculty of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, where he was an Administration of Justice professor. His current research and professional interests are terrorism and extremism, homeland security, and the administration of justice.
Dr. Martin is author of several books on the subjects of terrorism and homeland security, including Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (SAGE Publications, 2025); Terrorism and WMDs: Awareness and Response, Third Edition (with John Pichtel, CRC Press, 2025); Understanding Homeland Security (SAGE Publications, 2024); The Handbook of Homeland Security (with Scott Romaniuk and Martin Scott Catino; Routledge, 2023); Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies (SAGE Publications, 2022); Terrorism: An International Perspective (with Fynnwin Prager; SAGE Publications, 2019); The SAGE Encyclopedia of Terrorism, Second Edition (SAGE Publications, 2011); Terrorism and Homeland Security (SAGE, 2011); and The New Era of Terrorism: Selected Readings (SAGE Publications, 2004). He is also author of Juvenile Justice: Process and Systems (SAGE Publications, 2005).
Prior to joining academia, Dr. Martin served as Managing Attorney for the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh, where he was also director of a program created under a federal consent decree to desegregate public and assisted housing. He was also Special Counsel to the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas. As Special Counsel, he occupied a personal and confidential position in the central office of the Department of Justice; sat as hearing officer for disciplinary hearings and departmental grievances; served as chair of the Drug Policy Committee; served as liaison to the intergovernmental Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee as well as to the Narcotics Strike Force; and provided daily legal and policy advice to the Attorney General. Prior to serving as Special Counsel, he was a "floor" Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York. As Legislative Assistant, he researched, evaluated and drafted legislation in areas of foreign policy, foreign aid, human rights, housing, education, social services, and poverty; he also drafted House floor statements, Congressional Record inserts, press releases, and news articles; and he composed speeches, briefing materials, and legislative correspondence.
Dr. Martin received his A.B. degree from Harvard College, J.D. from Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, and Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Martin is author of several books on the subjects of terrorism and homeland security, including Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives, and Issues (SAGE Publications, 2025); Terrorism and WMDs: Awareness and Response, Third Edition (with John Pichtel, CRC Press, 2025); Understanding Homeland Security (SAGE Publications, 2024); The Handbook of Homeland Security (with Scott Romaniuk and Martin Scott Catino; Routledge, 2023); Essentials of Terrorism: Concepts and Controversies (SAGE Publications, 2022); Terrorism: An International Perspective (with Fynnwin Prager; SAGE Publications, 2019); The SAGE Encyclopedia of Terrorism, Second Edition (SAGE Publications, 2011); Terrorism and Homeland Security (SAGE, 2011); and The New Era of Terrorism: Selected Readings (SAGE Publications, 2004). He is also author of Juvenile Justice: Process and Systems (SAGE Publications, 2005).
Prior to joining academia, Dr. Martin served as Managing Attorney for the Fair Housing Partnership of Greater Pittsburgh, where he was also director of a program created under a federal consent decree to desegregate public and assisted housing. He was also Special Counsel to the Attorney General of the U.S. Virgin Islands on the island of St. Thomas. As Special Counsel, he occupied a personal and confidential position in the central office of the Department of Justice; sat as hearing officer for disciplinary hearings and departmental grievances; served as chair of the Drug Policy Committee; served as liaison to the intergovernmental Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee as well as to the Narcotics Strike Force; and provided daily legal and policy advice to the Attorney General. Prior to serving as Special Counsel, he was a "floor" Legislative Assistant to Congressman Charles B. Rangel of New York. As Legislative Assistant, he researched, evaluated and drafted legislation in areas of foreign policy, foreign aid, human rights, housing, education, social services, and poverty; he also drafted House floor statements, Congressional Record inserts, press releases, and news articles; and he composed speeches, briefing materials, and legislative correspondence.
Dr. Martin received his A.B. degree from Harvard College, J.D. from Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law, and Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh.
Content
Terrorism: A Conceptual Review
Terrorism: First Impressions
Chapter Introduction
The Past as Prologue: Historical Perspectives on Terrorism
First Considerations: Exploring Definitions, Sources, and Ideologies
The Morality of Terrorist Violence: Four Quotations
Terrorism and Criminal Skill: Three Cases in Point
Terrorist Symbolism: Oklahoma City and September 11, 2001
Chapter Summary
The Nature of the Beast: Defining Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Reactionaries and Radicals: Revisiting the Classical Ideological Continuum
Understanding Extremism: The Foundation of Terrorism
Defining Terrorism: An Ongoing Debate
The American Context: Defining Terrorism in the United States
A Definitional Problem: Perspectives on Terrorism
The Political Violence Matrix
Chapter Summary
Beginnings: The Causes of Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Extreme Convictions: Motives of Terrorists
Extreme Circumstances: Explanations of Terrorism
Chapter Summary
The Terrorists
Terror From Above: State Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
The Problem of Accountability: Monitoring State Terrorism
The State as Terrorist: A State Terrorism Paradigm
Violence Abroad: State Terrorism as Foreign Policy
Violence at Home: State Terrorism as Domestic Policy
Chapter Summary
Terror From Below: Dissident Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
The Rebel as Terrorist: A Dissident Terrorism Paradigm
Operational Shifts: The New Morality and the Rise of Terrorist Cells
Warring Against the State: Antistate Dissident Terrorism
Warring Against a People: Communal Terrorism
Chapter Summary
Violence in the Name of the Faith: Religious Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Primary and Secondary Motives: The Idiosyncratic Quality of Religious Terrorism
Historical Cases in Point: Fighting, Dying, and Killing in the Name of the Faith
State-Sponsored Religious Terrorism in the Modern Era
Dissident Religious Terrorism in the Modern Era
The Future of Religious Terrorism
Chapter Summary
Violent Ideologies: Terrorism from the Left and Right
Chapter Introduction
Radicals and Reactionaries: A Comparison
Left-Wing Ideologies and Activism
Class Struggle and National Liberation: The Terrorist Left
Right-Wing Ideologies and Activism
Race and Order: The Terrorist Right
Violent Ideologies in the New Era of Terrorism
Chapter Summary
Terrorist Spillovers: International Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Defining International Terrorism
Globalized Revolution: Reasons for International Terrorism
Globalized Solidarity: International Terrorist Networks
The New Era of International Terrorism
Postscript: The "Stateless Revolutionaries"
Chapter Summary
Emerging Terrorist Environments: Gender-Selective Terrorism and Criminal Dissident Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Culture and Conflict: Gender-Selected Victims of Terrorist Violence
Protecting the Enterprise: Criminal Dissident Terrorism
A Global Problem: Regional Cases of Criminal Terrorism
Chapter Summary
The Terrorist Trade
Tools of the Trade: Tactics and Targets of Terrorists
Chapter Introduction
The Purpose: Terrorist Objectives
The Means: Terrorist Methods
The Focus: Terrorist Targets
The Outcome: Is Terrorism Effective?
Chapter Summary
The Information Battleground: Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media
Chapter Introduction
Two Perspectives: The Media and Governments
A New Battleground: The War for the Information High Ground
The Public's Right to Know: Regulating the Media
Chapter Summary
Final Analysis
The American Case: Terrorism in the United States
Chapter Introduction
An Introduction to the American Case
Background to Terrorism: Leftist Activism and Ideological Extremism in America
Left-Wing Terrorism in the United States
Background to Terrorism: Rightist Activism and Ideological Extremism in America
Right-Wing Terrorism in the United States
The New Millennium and International Terrorism in the United States
Chapter Summary
Responding to Terror: The Options
Chapter Introduction
Background: An Overview of Options
Warlike Operations: Counterterrorism and the Use of Force
Operations Other Than War: Repressive Options
Operations Other Than War: Conciliatory Options
Applying the Rule of Law: Legalistic Options
Chapter Summary
What Next? The Future of Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
An Overview of Near-Term Projections
The Future of Terrorism: New Threats in the New Millennium
Controlling Terrorism: New Challenges for a New Millennium
Prospects for Terrorism in the United States
Chapter Summary
Appendixes
Glossary
Index
Terrorism: First Impressions
Chapter Introduction
The Past as Prologue: Historical Perspectives on Terrorism
First Considerations: Exploring Definitions, Sources, and Ideologies
The Morality of Terrorist Violence: Four Quotations
Terrorism and Criminal Skill: Three Cases in Point
Terrorist Symbolism: Oklahoma City and September 11, 2001
Chapter Summary
The Nature of the Beast: Defining Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Reactionaries and Radicals: Revisiting the Classical Ideological Continuum
Understanding Extremism: The Foundation of Terrorism
Defining Terrorism: An Ongoing Debate
The American Context: Defining Terrorism in the United States
A Definitional Problem: Perspectives on Terrorism
The Political Violence Matrix
Chapter Summary
Beginnings: The Causes of Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Extreme Convictions: Motives of Terrorists
Extreme Circumstances: Explanations of Terrorism
Chapter Summary
The Terrorists
Terror From Above: State Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
The Problem of Accountability: Monitoring State Terrorism
The State as Terrorist: A State Terrorism Paradigm
Violence Abroad: State Terrorism as Foreign Policy
Violence at Home: State Terrorism as Domestic Policy
Chapter Summary
Terror From Below: Dissident Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
The Rebel as Terrorist: A Dissident Terrorism Paradigm
Operational Shifts: The New Morality and the Rise of Terrorist Cells
Warring Against the State: Antistate Dissident Terrorism
Warring Against a People: Communal Terrorism
Chapter Summary
Violence in the Name of the Faith: Religious Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Primary and Secondary Motives: The Idiosyncratic Quality of Religious Terrorism
Historical Cases in Point: Fighting, Dying, and Killing in the Name of the Faith
State-Sponsored Religious Terrorism in the Modern Era
Dissident Religious Terrorism in the Modern Era
The Future of Religious Terrorism
Chapter Summary
Violent Ideologies: Terrorism from the Left and Right
Chapter Introduction
Radicals and Reactionaries: A Comparison
Left-Wing Ideologies and Activism
Class Struggle and National Liberation: The Terrorist Left
Right-Wing Ideologies and Activism
Race and Order: The Terrorist Right
Violent Ideologies in the New Era of Terrorism
Chapter Summary
Terrorist Spillovers: International Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Defining International Terrorism
Globalized Revolution: Reasons for International Terrorism
Globalized Solidarity: International Terrorist Networks
The New Era of International Terrorism
Postscript: The "Stateless Revolutionaries"
Chapter Summary
Emerging Terrorist Environments: Gender-Selective Terrorism and Criminal Dissident Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
Culture and Conflict: Gender-Selected Victims of Terrorist Violence
Protecting the Enterprise: Criminal Dissident Terrorism
A Global Problem: Regional Cases of Criminal Terrorism
Chapter Summary
The Terrorist Trade
Tools of the Trade: Tactics and Targets of Terrorists
Chapter Introduction
The Purpose: Terrorist Objectives
The Means: Terrorist Methods
The Focus: Terrorist Targets
The Outcome: Is Terrorism Effective?
Chapter Summary
The Information Battleground: Terrorist Violence and the Role of the Media
Chapter Introduction
Two Perspectives: The Media and Governments
A New Battleground: The War for the Information High Ground
The Public's Right to Know: Regulating the Media
Chapter Summary
Final Analysis
The American Case: Terrorism in the United States
Chapter Introduction
An Introduction to the American Case
Background to Terrorism: Leftist Activism and Ideological Extremism in America
Left-Wing Terrorism in the United States
Background to Terrorism: Rightist Activism and Ideological Extremism in America
Right-Wing Terrorism in the United States
The New Millennium and International Terrorism in the United States
Chapter Summary
Responding to Terror: The Options
Chapter Introduction
Background: An Overview of Options
Warlike Operations: Counterterrorism and the Use of Force
Operations Other Than War: Repressive Options
Operations Other Than War: Conciliatory Options
Applying the Rule of Law: Legalistic Options
Chapter Summary
What Next? The Future of Terrorism
Chapter Introduction
An Overview of Near-Term Projections
The Future of Terrorism: New Threats in the New Millennium
Controlling Terrorism: New Challenges for a New Millennium
Prospects for Terrorism in the United States
Chapter Summary
Appendixes
Glossary
Index