Origins of Terrorism
Psychologies, Ideologies, Theologies, States of Mind
Published on 26. January 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
304 pages
978-0-943875-89-7 (ISBN)
Description
Terrorists and terrorism have become a major force internationally. Hostage-taking and other acts of violence for political ends are common all over the globe. This groundbreaking study sheds new light on the phenomenon of terrorism. This book examines and explains the nature and sources of terrorists' beliefs, actions, goals, worldviews, and states of mind. Origins of Terrorism addresses, with scholarly responsibility as well as necessary urgency, one of the most vexing intellectual and political challenges of our time. The contributors to this book bring deep learning and experience in realms that are vital to an understanding of the arenas within which terrorist behavior takes place-arenas such as ideology, nationalism and religion. The authors explore terrorist behavior in its troubling richness and diversity, and identify the ways in which it develops, grows and sustains itself. In addition, they study the mechanisms that enable terrorists to easily carry out violent acts against innocents, as well as the ways in which leaders of governments respond to terrorist actions and threats.
Finally, they identify the opportunities for future research in the psychology of terrorism as well as the limits of such research This collection, under Reich's editorship, will help us to understand terrorism as well as the motivations behind it. Origins of Terrorism, which is being published simultaneously in hardcover and paperback, is an important study which is bound to affect the way we look at world politics.
Finally, they identify the opportunities for future research in the psychology of terrorism as well as the limits of such research This collection, under Reich's editorship, will help us to understand terrorism as well as the motivations behind it. Origins of Terrorism, which is being published simultaneously in hardcover and paperback, is an important study which is bound to affect the way we look at world politics.
Reviews / Votes
Pursue[s] the pathology of terrorism through the centuries... A fascinating amount of information. Washington Post A disquieting but fascinating book... Strongly recommended. British Journal of Psychiatry An honest and penetrating effort to explain the role of human psychology in terrorism. Canadian Journal of Political ScienceMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Baltimore, MD
United States
Publishing group
Johns Hopkins University Press
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 231 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
494 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-943875-89-7 (9780943875897)
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
Persons
Walter Reich is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. A psychiatrist, he is former director of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and was a Senior Research Psychiatrist at the National Institute of Mental Health.
Content
Contents: Foreword Walter Laqueur Preface Walter Reich Introduction Walter Reich Part I. Strategy or psychology?: Origins of terrorist behavior 1 The logic of terrorism: Terrorist behavior as a product of strategic choice Martha Crenshaw 2 Terrorist psycho-logic: Terrorist behavior as a product of psychological forces Jerrold M. Post Part II. Varieties of terrorism: Ideological and religious motivations 3 Ideology and rebellion: Terrorism in West Germany Konrad Kellen 4 Ideology and repentance: Terrorism in Italy Franco Ferracuti 5 The psychopolitical formation of extreme left terrorism in a democracy: The case of the Weathermen Ehud Sprinzak 6 Terrorism in democracies: Its social and political bases Ted Robert Gurr 7 Sacred terror: A contemporary example from Islam David C. Rapoport 8 The moral logic of Hizballah Martin Kramer Part III. States of mind: How do terrorists think? Which psychological mechanisms enable them to do what they do? 9 Mechanisms of moral disengagement Albert Bandura 10 The readiness to kill and die: Suicidal terrorism in the Middle East Ariel Merari Part IV. Responding to terrorism: Decision making and the pressures on leadership 11 Hostage taking, the presidency, and stress Margaret G. Hermann Charles F. Hermann 12 Taking vows: The domestication of policy-making in hostage incidents Gary Sick Part V. The psychology of terrorism: What can we know? What must we learn? 13 Questions to be answered, research to be done, knowledge to be applied Martha Crenshaw 14 Understanding terrorist behavior: The limits and opportunities of psychological inquiry Walter Reich About the editor and contributors Index