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Department Syllabi Page
This
is an ongoing and as yet incomplete guide for students in Political Science
345. It consists of resources and questions that parallel the course
syllabus. It should be used in preparation for daily assignments and in
studying for tests.
Table of Contents:
Some General Sources of Web Based Information Related to
Terrorism and Homeland Security
Reading Assignments and Questions for Class
Discussion on a Weekly Basis
Week 1 Introduction to the Study of
Terrorism and Homeland Security
Week 2 Causes, Recruitment, Organizational Issues, and Tactics
Week 3 Terrorism,
the Media, Cyberspace, and Public Opinion
Week 4 Why is America a Target?
Week 5 Terrorism - Not
Something New - Some Historical Perspective
Week 6 Terrorism in the Middle East
Week 7 Origins
and Evolution of Al Qaeda
Week 8 The
9/11 Attacks
Week 9 Planning to Protect the Homeland
Week 10 The
Politics of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
Week 11 Preventing Future Attacks
Week 12 The WMD Nightmare
Week 13 First Responders
Week 14 Grand Strategy; Future Planning;
International Cooperation; Military Action
Some General Sources of Web Based
Information Related to Terrorism and Homeland Security:
Students should make extensive use of “Homeland Security Affairs” the Journal
of Naval Postgraduate School Center for Homeland Defense and Security which may
be found online at: http://www.hsaj.org/?home
The National Counterterrorism Center maintains an excellent site at: http://www.nctc.gov/
The Jamestown Foundation maintains a useful site on international terrorism
at: http://www.jamestown.org/
Very good articles on terrorism and homeland security may be found at the site
of The Council on Foreign Relations: http://www.foreignaffairs.org/
The University of Maryland hosts a very useful website for the National
Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism found at:
http://www.start.umd.edu/start/
Very good articles on terrorism and homeland security (and links to public
opinion polls on the views of ordinary Americans and elites on those issues)
may be found at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations site at:
http://www.ccfr.org/
The Brookings Institution (a generally liberal think tank) sponsors a number of studies on terrorism and homeland security and may be located online at: http://www.brook.edu/
The Heritage Foundation (a generally conservative think tank) sponsors a
site containing studies on terrorism and homeland security at:
http://nationalsecurity.org/
Very useful information on terrorism and homeland security may be found at
the CIA web site at: http://www.cia.gov/
The CIA World
Fact Book is quite useful.
The United States Military Academy has a Combating Terrorism Center at West
Point: http://www.ctc.usma.edu/
One may also wish to visit the homepage of the Department of Homeland
Security at: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/index.jsp
If you go to the following site you can access public opinion polls from around
the world: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/?nid=&id=&lb=hmpg
Take note of the link to
polls from the Middle East and North Africa: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=brme
Also take note of the link
to polls on international security matters: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=btis
Reading Assignments and Questions for Classes on a Weekly and Daily Basis:
Week 1 Introduction to the Study of Terrorism and Homeland
Security
Assignment 1 What is Terrorism?
Read: Terrorism and Counterterrorism Chpt. 1, articles 1, 2
Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpts.
1, 2
Also
read debates over the definition of terrorism on the following online sites:
http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2008/02/terrorism_expert_bruce_hoffman.html
http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=1564
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. How should one define terrorism?
2. What are the some of the competing definitions?
3. What are the conceptual problems found in trying to develop an
adequate definition?
4. Do we define terrorism differently in various situations and times?
5. How does the terrorism seen in the current decade differ from the
terrorism seen during the cold war period?
6. Explain the differences between the terrorism associated with groups
like Al -Qaeda and the terrorism found in the '60s and '70s?
7. Why are these groups more dangerous?
8. Why are they more difficult to defeat or contain?
9. How is America put at risk by these groups?
10. How can one best classify different terrorist organizations?
11. How can one distinguish between terrorism and other forms of
political violence?
12. What is meant by "state terrorism"?
13. What direction is terrorism likely to take in the next 10 years?
14. How should governments address the dangers posed by terrorist
organizations?
15. What is the best way to combat terrorism?
Assignment 2 Surveying the Threat
Read: Terrorism and Counterterrorism Chpt. 1, articles 1, 2
Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpts.
1, 2
Also
read debates over the definition of terrorism on the following online sites:
http://blog.syracuse.com/news/2008/02/terrorism_expert_bruce_hoffman.html
http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=1564
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. How does Bruce Hoffman explain how terrorism has changed over time?
2. Why is terrorism so difficult to define?
3. How does terrorism differ from warfare?
4. What are the trends found in the data collected about the number and
lethality of terrorist incidents in recent years?
5. What are the concerns and level of probability regarding the possible
use of weapons of mass destruction in terrorist attacks?
6. What is the role of fear in terrorist strategies?
7. What are the best ways to deal with terrorism?
8. How should one assess the costs and benefits of different
counterterrorism strategies?
9. Discuss the role of examining roots, capabilities, intentions, and
defenses in developing counterterrorism strategies.
10. Why do weak and failed states contribute to the problem of terrorism?
11. How does Cindy Combs define
terrorism?
12. How does Eqbal
Amad criticize many of the definitions of terrorism?
Essay No. 1 Explain the political issues involved in the debate over
how best to define this phenomenon.
After explaining the conceptual problems associated with defining
terrorism, advance and defend the best definition of the phenomenon. This three page essay is due on Friday by
4:00 p.m.
Week 2 Causes,
Recruitment, Organizational Issues, and Tactics
Assignment 3 The “New Terrorism”
Read: Terrorism and Counterterrorism Chpt. 1, article 3; Chpt. 3,
articles 1, 2
Use of Online Sources
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What do Russell Howard and other
experts mean when they distinguish what they call the “new terrorism” from the
“old terrorism” in the articles you read?
2. Why do some experts think the
distinction is misleading?
3. What does Martha Crenshaw mean when
she talks about terrorism being a product of strategic choice?
4. What kind of cost/benefit questions
must be asked when an extremist groups considers
undertaking terrorism?
5. How is hostage taking a form of
bargaining?
Assignment 4 Making Terrorists
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpts. 3, 4, 5
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt. 2, articles 3,
4; Chpt. 5, articles 7, 8
Use of Online Sources
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. Why do some groups turn to terrorism as a means of achieving their
objectives?
2. What are the major causes of terrorism?
3. Under what circumstances is one more likely
to see significant levels of terrorism?
4. Do terrorists come from particular background?
5. What is meant by "state terrorism"?
6. How do some states sponsor terrorism?
7. Why do many counterterrorism experts
point to the dangers posed by weak and failing states?
8. How does James J.F. Forest criticize
many U.S. counterterrorism policies?
9. What is the role of political
extremism in terrorist organizations?
10. What problems are posed by “foreign
fighters” in many countries confronting terrorism?
Assignment 5 Organization and Tactics
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpts. 6, 7
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt. 2, article 2; Chpt. 3, article 3; Chpt. 5,
article 2; Chpt. 6, article 1
Use of Online Sources
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. Why do individuals join terrorist organizations?
2. How are terrorist recruited?
3. How are terrorists trained?
4. How do terrorists plan and carry out their attacks?
5. Why is it so difficult to prevent terrorist attacks?
6. Why are most societies so vulnerable to such attacks?
7. What are the best ways to limit such attacks?
8. How do states respond to terrorism?
9. What special issues are associated with suicide bombings?
10. Explain the evolution of suicide
terrorism.
11. What do some experts mean when they
talk about “network” forms of organizations?
12. What is meant by the term “netwar”?
13. Why is the U.S. so vulnerable to
terrorist attacks?
Essay No. 2
Write a three page essay in which you explain the principal causes of
terrorism. This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 3 Terrorism, the Media, Cyberspace, and
Public Opinion
Assignment 6 Terrorist Propaganda and the Media
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpt. 8
Report on cybersecurity:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/gao-federal-agencies-fail-on-cybersecurity-measures-20111003
(GAO report on cybersecurity: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d12137.pdf
)
“Cybersecurity”
by Patrick Marshall in online CQ
Researcher article found in February 26, 2010 Volume 20, Issue 8.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010022600
Online report: http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/081208_securingcyberspace_44.pdf
Online essay on internet recruitment:
http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.3
Online 2010 threat
predictions from McAfee: http://mcafee.com/us/local_content/white_papers/7985rpt_labs_threat_predict_1209_v2.pdf
Online article on cybersecurity issues: http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol6/iss1/79/?sending=10812
Online article on
prioritizing cybersecurity: http://www.cfr.org/publication/21052/prioritizing_us_cybersecurity.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F114%2Fhealth_science_and_technology
Online polls about world
public opinion and terrorism: http://www.cfr.org/publication/20023#p1
If you go to the following
site you can access public opinion polls from around the world:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/?nid=&id=&lb=hmpg
Take note of the link to
polls from the Middle East and North Africa: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=brme
Also take note of the link
to polls on international security matters: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=btis
Online articles with polls
results on public opinion in Muslim countries about terrorism: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/591.php?lb=brme&pnt=591&nid=&id=
Online article with polls
results on public opinion in other countries about 9?11: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/535.php?lb=btot&pnt=535&nid=&id=
Major survey of American
Muslim public opinion from Pew Research Center:
http://people-press.org/2011/08/30/muslim-americans-no-signs-of-growth-in-alienation-or-support-for-extremism/
Pew Research Center survey
of Muslim-Western tensions: http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/07/21/muslim-western-tensions-persist/
Special Topics:
M: Terrorist Propaganda
and the Media
W: Terrorism and Cyberspace
F: Terrorism; Public Opinion in the United
States and the World
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What are the key elements of the media strategy employed by terrorist
organizations?
2. How do they use the media to advance their cause?
3. What is meant by the term "information war"?
4. How does media coverage of terrorism help the cause of terrorist
organizations?
5. How does media coverage sometimes hurt the cause of terrorist
organizations?
6. What role does Al Jazeera play in all this?
7. How can the media be useful to the government?
8. What are some of the successful strategies used by governments
regarding terrorist attacks?
Assignment 7 Terrorism and Cyberspace
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpt. 8
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt. 5, articles 5, 6; Chpt. 8, article 5
Report on cybersecurity:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/gao-federal-agencies-fail-on-cybersecurity-measures-20111003
(GAO report on cybersecurity: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d12137.pdf
)
“Cybersecurity”
by Patrick Marshall in online CQ
Researcher article found in February 26, 2010 Volume 20, Issue 8.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010022600
Online report: http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/081208_securingcyberspace_44.pdf
Online essay on internet
recruitment: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.3
Online 2010 threat
predictions from McAfee: http://mcafee.com/us/local_content/white_papers/7985rpt_labs_threat_predict_1209_v2.pdf
Online article on cybersecurity issues: http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol6/iss1/79/?sending=10812
Online article on
prioritizing cybersecurity: http://www.cfr.org/publication/21052/prioritizing_us_cybersecurity.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F114%2Fhealth_science_and_technology
Online polls about world
public opinion and terrorism: http://www.cfr.org/publication/20023#p1
If you go to the following
site you can access public opinion polls from around the world:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/?nid=&id=&lb=hmpg
Take note of the link to
polls from the Middle East and North Africa: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=brme
Also take note of the link
to polls on international security matters: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=btis
Online articles with polls
results on public opinion in Muslim countries about terrorism: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/591.php?lb=brme&pnt=591&nid=&id=
Online article with polls
results on public opinion in other countries about 9?11: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/535.php?lb=btot&pnt=535&nid=&id=
Major survey of American Muslim public
opinion from Pew Research Center: http://people-press.org/2011/08/30/muslim-americans-no-signs-of-growth-in-alienation-or-support-for-extremism/
Pew Research Center survey
of Muslim-Western tensions: http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/07/21/muslim-western-tensions-persist/
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. How do terrorist organizations make use of the internet?
2. What types of recruitment tactics are used by terrorist organizations in
their internet strategies?
3. What problems do governments have in dealing with these tactics?
4. What tactics are used by governments in dealing with these challenges?
5. What to communications experts mean when they discuss the need for telecom
redundancy?
6. How can communication systems be protected?
7. How do some of the online articles you read address the issues surrounding
internet and communications systems security?
Assignment 8 Terrorism and the Public
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century
Chpt. 8
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt. 8, articles 1,
6; Chpt. 9,
article 1
Report on cybersecurity:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/gao-federal-agencies-fail-on-cybersecurity-measures-20111003
(GAO report on cybersecurity: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d12137.pdf
)
“Cybersecurity”
by Patrick Marshall in online CQ
Researcher article found in February 26, 2010 Volume 20, Issue 8.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010022600
Online report: http://www.csis.org/media/csis/pubs/081208_securingcyberspace_44.pdf
Online essay on internet
recruitment: http://www.hsaj.org/?fullarticle=6.1.3
Online 2010 threat
predictions from McAfee: http://mcafee.com/us/local_content/white_papers/7985rpt_labs_threat_predict_1209_v2.pdf
Online article on cybersecurity issues: http://www.bepress.com/jhsem/vol6/iss1/79/?sending=10812
Online article on
prioritizing cybersecurity: http://www.cfr.org/publication/21052/prioritizing_us_cybersecurity.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F114%2Fhealth_science_and_technology
Online polls about world
public opinion and terrorism: http://www.cfr.org/publication/20023#p1
If you go to the following
site you can access public opinion polls from around the world:
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/?nid=&id=&lb=hmpg
Take note of the link to
polls from the Middle East and North Africa: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=brme
Also take note of the link
to polls on international security matters: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/index.php?nid=&id=&lb=btis
Online articles with polls
results on public opinion in Muslim countries about terrorism: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/591.php?lb=brme&pnt=591&nid=&id=
Online article with polls
results on public opinion in other countries about 9?11: http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/international_security_bt/535.php?lb=btot&pnt=535&nid=&id=
Major survey of American
Muslim public opinion from Pew Research Center:
http://people-press.org/2011/08/30/muslim-americans-no-signs-of-growth-in-alienation-or-support-for-extremism/
Pew Research Center survey
of Muslim-Western tensions: http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/07/21/muslim-western-tensions-persist/
Questions for Class
Discussion:
1. What do public opinion polls tell us about how Americans perceive
terrorism and terrorists threats?
2. How do terrorists try to shape public opinion?
3. How are network structures constructed by terrorist groups and what
problems do they pose?
4. What public relations techniques are used by governments to shape
opinion about terrorism?
5. How can governments deal with the network structures of terrorist
organizations?
6. What special problems do Western governments, especially the United
States, have in addressing public opinion in the Middle East regarding
terrorism?
Essay No. 3
Write a three page essay on the intersection between cyberspace and
terrorism. What problems exist in this area? How can those problems
be addressed? This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 4 Why
is America a Target?
Assignment 9 Resisting American Foreign Policies; America blamed as the Evil
Force behind Globalization; Role of Ideologies
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First
Century, Chpt. 9
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt. 2
“Homegrown Jihadists” by
Peter Katel in online CQ Researcher article found in Sept. 3, 2010 Volume 20, Issue 30.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010090300
“Hate Groups” by Peter Katel in online CQ
Researcher article found in May 8, 2009, 2010 Volume 19, Issue 18.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2009050800
Other sources of material:
http://www.cfr.org/thinktank/iigg/pop/
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/384.php?lb=brme&pnt=384&nid=&id= http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/views_on_countriesregions_bt/623.php?nid=&id=&pnt=623&lb=
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4431
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/19858.pdf
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2001/0425terrorism.aspx
http://www.globalenvision.org/library/8/703/
http://www.glocaleye.org/terglo.htm
http://www.ijtihad.org/globalterror.htm
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/528.php?lb=brme&pnt=528&nid=&id
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/349.php?lb=btgl&pnt=349&nid=&id=
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/446.php?lb=btgl&pnt=446&nid=&id=
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/644.php?lb=btgl&pnt=644&nid=&id=
Check out additional online articles on globalization and terrorism
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What is involved in globalization?
2. What grievances come out of the processes involved in globalization?
3. How are anti-globalization ideologies used by terrorist organizations?
4. Which American foreign policies produce grievances used by terrorist
organization to advance their causes?
5. Should or can the United States change any of those policies or would such
changes cause even more problems?
Assignment 10 Domestic Sources of Terrorism
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century, Chpt. 9
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt. 2
“Homegrown Jihadists” by
Peter Katel in online CQ Researcher article found in Sept. 3, 2010 Volume 20, Issue 30.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2010090300
“Hate Groups” by Peter Katel
in online CQ Researcher article found
in May 8, 2009, 2010 Volume 19, Issue 18.
Go to http://library.cqpress.com/ and access
article at: http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2009050800
Other sources of material:
http://www.cfr.org/thinktank/iigg/pop/
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/brmiddleeastnafricara/384.php?lb=brme&pnt=384&nid=&id= http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/views_on_countriesregions_bt/623.php?nid=&id=&pnt=623&lb=
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=4431
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/19858.pdf
http://www.brookings.edu/events/2001/0425terrorism.aspx
http://www.globalenvision.org/library/8/703/
http://www.glocaleye.org/terglo.htm
http://www.ijtihad.org/globalterror.htm
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/528.php?lb=brme&pnt=528&nid=&id
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/349.php?lb=btgl&pnt=349&nid=&id=
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/446.php?lb=btgl&pnt=446&nid=&id=
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/articles/btglobalizationtradera/644.php?lb=btgl&pnt=644&nid=&id=
Check out other online
articles on globalization and terrorism
Check out additional online articles on American foreign policy and terrorism
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What are some of the major hate
groups in American society?
2. What are some of the ideologies
behind such groups?
3. What factors contribute to the
emergence of home grown jihadist groups?
Assignment 11 Your first test will be given on
Friday. This essay test will count for 1/6 of your semester grade.
Week 5 Terrorism - Not Something New - Some
Historical Perspective
Assignment 12 Europe and Latin America
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpts. 2, 3, 4, 9
ETA: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9271/
FARC: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9272/
Look up additional articles on the following:
Shining Path
Red Army Faction
Baader-Meinhoff Group
IRA
Red Brigades
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What were the goals of some of the older terrorist groups in Western
Europe such as the IRA, ETA, The Red Army Faction, and Baader
Meinhof Group?
2. What targets did they focus on?
3. What were their ideologies?
4. How do so many of the newer groups there with roots in the Middle East
and Africa differ from those older groups?
5. What are some of the tactics and ideologies of these groups?
6. How are some of these newer groups part of a global phenomenon?
7. What is the connection between some of the Latin American groups and
criminal organizations?
8. What is meant by "narco-terrorism"?
Assignment 13 South Asia and South East Asia
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century
Chpts. 2, 3, 4, 9
Liberation Tigers of Tmial Eelam (LTTE)
For more on Sri Lanka https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html
On
Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) http://www.cfr.org/publication/9235/abu_sayyaf_group_philippines_islamist_separatists.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F456%2F
for more on the Philippines: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/rp.html
Terrorist
Groups in India: http://www.cfr.org/publication/12773/terror_groups_in_india.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F456%2Fterrorist_organizations
For more on India: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/in.html
On
Terrorist Groups in Pakistan: http://www.cfr.org/publication/15422/pakistans_new_generation_of_terrorists.html
For more on Pakistan https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/pk.html
Kashmir
Terrorist Groups: http://www.cfr.org/publication/9135/
http://www.cfr.org/publication/17882/profile.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2F456%2Fterrorist_organizations
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What have been some of the most significant terrorist groups in South Asia
and Southeast Asia?
2. What are the sources of conflict that these groups exploit?
3. What ideologies are involved?
Assignment 14 The Legacy of Terrorism in American History
Read:
Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpt. 9
A
good source of information on hate groups in the United states
is the Southern Poverty Law Center: http://www.splcenter.org/
Klu
Klux Klan (KKK): http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp?T=26&m=4
Data
on Lynching in America by Race and State: http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/shipp/lynchingsstate.html
Essay on Lynching in America: http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/1979/2/79.02.04.x.html#b
Christian Identity Movement: http://www.splcenter.org/intel/map/hate.jsp?T=25&m=4
Look up articles on the following:
Armed Forces of National Liberation (FLAN)
Black
Panthers
Aryan
Nations (AN)
Army
of God
Earth
Liberation Front (ELF)
Jewish
Defense League (JDL)
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What have been the most notable terrorist groups in North America?
2. What have been their ideologies?
3. What has been their role in our history?
4. Which groups are the greatest threat today?
5. What are some of the news groups and what ideologies do they advocate?
6. How vulnerable is the United States to those newer groups with ties to
the Middle East?
Essay No. 4
Write a three page essay in which you discuss the principal terrorist groups
operating in Pakistan. Be
sure to explain the goals of these groups and the relationship between these
groups and the government of Pakistan. This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 6 Terrorism in the Middle East
Assignment 15 Zionism and the creation of Israel
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpt.
6
Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Article on Zionism: http://www.mideastweb.org/zionism.htm
Israel: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What are the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
2. What was Zionism?
3. What have been the different forms of Zionism?
4. What were some of the groups fighting the British in Palestine?
5. What were some of the more well known terrorist groups during this
period?
6. What are some of examples of terrorist attacks by extremist Israelis
opposed to concessions to Palestinians?
Assignment 16 Palestinian Groups
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpt.
6
Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Palestine Liberation Organization: http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=4182
Al-Fatah: http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=128
Palestinian Islamic Jihad: http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=82
Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades http://www.cfr.org/publication/9127/alaqsa_martyrs_brigades_palestinian_nationalists.html
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine: http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=85
Hamas: http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=49
and
http://www.cfr.org/publication/8968/hamas.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2Fpublication_list%3Fgroupby%3D0%26id%3D456%26filter%3D411
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What are the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
2. What are some of the oldest Palestinian groups?
3. What have been some of the most active Palestinian terrorist groups?
4. How did Hamas emerge to challenge Al-Fatah?
5. What are the Palestinian grievances?
Assignment 17 Hezbollah
Read: Terrorism in the Twenty-First Century Chpt. 6
Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Hezbollah: http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3101
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/hezbollah_aka_hizbollah_hizbullah.html?breadcrumb=%2Fissue%2Fpublication_list%3Fgroupby%3D0%26id%3D456%26filter%3D409
Lebanon: https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/le.html
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. How and why did Lebanon descend into civil war in the 1970's?
2. How did the situation in Lebanon get even worse in the 1980's?
3. What factors contributed to the emergence of Hezbollah?
4. What have been the principal political developments in Lebanon in the
past 10 years?
5. What can be learned from the 2006 Israeli invasion of Lebanon?
6. What has been the role of Syria in Lebanon?
Essay No. 5
Write a three page essay on opposition to the existence of Israel as a
central cause advanced by many Middle Eastern Terrorist movements.
This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
The following is incomplete:
Week 7 Origins and Evolution of Al Qaeda
Assignment 18 Religion and Terrorism: From the Muslim Brotherhood to Al
Qaeda
Read: The 9/11 Commission Report, Chpts.
2, 4, 5
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt.
3, article 3; Chpt. 4, articles 1, 2, 3
Use of
Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What has been the role of religion in the history of terrorism around
the world?
2. Is religiously inspired terrorism somehow worse or more dangerous than
political terrorism?
3. What are the different stains of Islamic
fundamentalism?
4. What are the ideas of various schools of Islamist ideology?
5. What ideological roots helped to shape the world view of Al Qaeda?
6. How does Al Qaeda justify the killing of civilians?
Assignment 19 Jihad against the Soviet Occupation of Afghanistan
Read: The 9/11 Commission Report, Chpts.
2, 4, 5
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt.
3, article 3; Chpt. 4, articles 1, 2, 3
Use of Online
Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. Why did the Soviet Union invade Afghanistan?
2. What groups came together to fight the Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan?
3. How did the struggle in Afghanistan shape the radical Islamist
groups?
4. What role did Osama Bin Laden play in the fight in Afghanistan?
Assignment 20 Declaring War on America
Read: The 9/11 Commission Report, Chpts.
2, 4, 5
Terrorism and
Counterterrorism Chpt.
3, article 3; Chpt. 4, articles 1, 2, 3
Use of Online
Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. How did Al Qaeda first form and then evolve?
2. What led Osama Bin Laden to form Al Qaeda?
3. How did the organization adapt to the circumstances of the 1990's?
4. How did the organization grow more influential in the terrorist world?
5. What attacks did Al Qaeda carry out
against the U.S. before 9/11?
Essay No. 6
Write a three page essay explaining how Al Qaeda became more powerful and
why it chose to declare war on America and launch the 9/11 attacks.
This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 8 The 9/11 Attacks
Read: The 9/11 Commission Report, Chpts. 1, 7, 8, 9, 10
Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
Assignment 21 Planning and Executing the 9/11 Attacks
Assignment 22The Intelligence and Security Failures Leading to 9/11
Assignment 23 NOTE: Your second test will be given on Friday, March
7. This essay test will count for 1/6 of your semester grade.
SPRING BREAK
Week 9 Planning to Protect the Homeland
Read: The 9/11 Commission Report, Chpts. 3, 6, 11, 12, 13
Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
Assignment 24 Planning and Preparedness Before 9/11
Assignment 25 Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission and Other Reports
Assignment 26 The Implementation and Critique of the 9/11 Commission's
Recommendations
Essay No. 7
Write a three page essay in which you evaluate the most important
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. This essay is due on Friday by
4:00 p.m.
Week 10 The
Politics of Counterterrorism and Homeland Security
Assignment 27 The War on Terror, The Patriot Act, and the Rule of Law
Read:
Questions for Class Discussion:
1. What were the rules established by FISA in 1978?
2. How did the 2002 Patriot Act and later amendments to that Act modify
the older FISA rules?
3. What were the major provisions of the Patriot Act?
4. How did President Bush's order to the NSA about surveillance of
American citizens go beyond FISA and the Patriot Act?
5. How does the War on Terror challenge traditional ideas about due
process and the rule of law?
6. Can torture ever be justified?
7. How far should government detention programs go?
8. Should the U.S. adhere to the Geneva Conventions?
9. What are the controversies surrounding the Bush administration's
policies regarding enemy combatants?
Assignment 28 The Politics of Intelligence Reform
Read: Read about the mission on structure of various U.S. intelligence
agencies by going to their web sites. Start at: http://www.dni.gov/aboutODNI/who.htm
and use links to different intelligence agencies at the bottom of that site.
Questions for Class Discussion:
1.
Assignment 29 The Department of Homeland Security
Read: Read about the mission and organizational structure of the
Department of Homeland Security found on web site materials at: http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm
Questions for Class Discussion:
1.
Essay No. 8
Write a three page essay on the debate over how to balance security with the
rule of law and protection of personal liberties. This essay is
due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 11 Preventing Future Attacks
Read: Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
M: Aviation Security
W: Port Security
F: Border Security
Essay No. 9
Write a three page essay on the challenges of securing points of entry into
the United States. This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 12 The
WMD Nightmare
Read: Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
M: The Technological Issues and
Impact
W: Proposed Solutions to the Threat
F: NOTE: You will have your third
test on Friday, April 11. This essay test will count for 1/6 of your
semester grade.
Week 13 First Responders
Read: Use of Online Sources: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
M: Getting Ready for Attacks
W: First Responders
F: Recovering from Attacks
Essay No. 10
Write a three page essay explaining the most important challenges facing
first responders. This essay is due on Friday by 4:00 p.m.
Week 14 Grand Strategy; Future
Planning; International Cooperation; Military Action
Read: Use of Online Materials: http://www.cfr.org/issue/135/terrorism.html
and http://www.tkb.org/Home.jsp
Special Topics:
M: Ethical Issues Surrounding Terrorism
W: Ethical Issues Surrounding
Counterterrorism
F: Review
April 24 Last day of Classes
April 25 Reading Day
April 27-May 1 Final Exam Period
Your final exam will count for 1/6 of your semester grade. It will be a
comprehensive essay examination.
Your final exam will be given at 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1.
May 9 Commencement
Course Requirements:
Three Essay Tests
Ten essays written during the semester
Contribution to class discussion
Final comprehensive exam
Grading:
Your grade will be based upon three tests given during the course of the
semester, your total score on ten three page essays, your contribution to class
discussion, and a final exam. Each of these will count for 1/6 of your
grade. Each of the exams will involve an essay format. The final
examination will be comprehensive.
Attendance Policy:
The attendance policy for this course is the University policy found in the University
Catalog and Student Handbook.
Honor Code:
Students are expected to live by the Longwood University Honor Code. All work
done for the class must be pledged. Your instructor will not tolerate any form
of cheating.
Class Discussion:
Students are expected to make contributions to class discussion. Your
grade in this regard will be based upon participation during the semester.
Ten Essays: You will
write 10 three page essays during the course of the semester. The topics for
these short essays are listed in the course outline. Each paper is worth
10 points and is due on the Friday of each week for which a paper is due. Late
papers will lose points.
The papers will follow the Turabian format.
A shorter version of that style manual can be found on the History style
manual at the following web address: <http://www.longwood.edu/history/HDPTSTS2.htm>
Taking Exams:
Exams must be taken on time. You are expected to provide proof for
any legitimate reason (illness, participation in a University-sponsored
activity, or recognizable emergency) you have for missing an exam. Having
another test on the dame day or having problems with the person you are dating
are not valid reasons for missing a test.
Bibliography:
Required Reading:
Russell D. Howard & Reid Sawyer. Editors.
Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Understanding the New Security Environment,
Reading and Interpretations. Second Edition.
New York: McGraw Hill, 2006. ISBN 0-07-352771-8.
Russell Howard, James Forest, Joanne Moore. Editiors.
Homeland Security and Terrorism: Reading and Interpretations. New York:
McGraw Hill, 2006. ISBN 0-07-145282-6.
The 9/11 Commission Report.
Suggested Reading or Reference:
Students may make use of the excellent and very extensive bibliographies provided in the texts.
Here is a list of e-books available through the Greenwood Library:
AMATEUR SOLDIERS, GLOBAL
WARS [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : INSURGENCY AND MODERN CONFLICT
/ MICHAEL C. FOWLER. Internet Resource.
CYBER-THREATS, INFORMATION
WARFARE, AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : DEFENDING THE U.S. HOMELAND / ANTHONY H. CORDESMAN WITH
JUSTIN G. CORDESMAN. Internet Resource.
FROM SECULARISM TO JIHAD
[ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : SAYYID QUTB AND THE
FOUNDATIONS OF RADICAL ISLAMISM / ADNAN A. MUSALLAM. Internet
Resource.
HANDBOOK
OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AND TERRORISM [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] / STEVEN L. HOENIG. Internet
Resource.
HOLIEST WARS [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : ISLAMIC MAHDIS, THEIR JIHADS, AND OSAMA BIN LADEN / TIMOTHY R. FURNISH ; FOREWORD BY MICHAEL RUBIN. Internet Resource.
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM IN
THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] / EDITED BY MARIUS H. LIVINGSTON
WITH LEE BRUCE KRESS AND MARIE G. WANEK. Internet Resource.
MARTYRDOM [ELECTRONIC
RESOURCE] : THE PSYCHOLOGY, THEOLOGY, AND POLITICS OF
SELF -SACRIFICE / EDITED BY RONA M. FIELDS ... [ET AL.] Internet Resource.
MODERNIZATION, DEMOCRACY, AND
ISLAM [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] / EDITED BY SHIREEN T. HUNTER AND HUMA MALIK ; FOREWORD BY AHMEDOU OULD-ABDALLAH. Internet
Resource.
ON TERRORISM AND COMBATING
TERRORISM [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : PROCEEDINGS OF AN
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR, TEL-AVIV, 1979 / EDITED BY ARIEL MERARI. Internet
Resource.
REVOLUTIONARY APOCALYPSE
[ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : IDEOLOGICAL ROOTS OF TERRORISM
/ LUCIANO PELLICANI. Internet Resource.
THE AGE OF
TOTAL WAR, 1860-1945 [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] / JEREMY BLACK. Internet
Resource.
THE DEADLY SIN OF TERRORISM
[ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : ITS EFFECT ON DEMOCRACY AND
CIVIL LIBERTY IN SIX COUNTRIES / EDITED BY DAVID A. CHARTERS. Internet
Resource.
THE FUTURE OF ISLAM IN THE
MIDDLE EAST [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] : FUNDAMENTALISM IN
EGYPT , ALGERIA
, AND SAUDI ARABIA / MAHMUD A. FAKSH. Internet Resource.
THE GATHERING BIOLOGICAL
WARFARE STORM [ELECTRONIC RESOURCE] / EDITED BY JIM A. DAVIS AND BARRY R.
SCHNEIDER. Internet Resource.
Other
Materials:
William C. Banks, Renee de Nevers, Mitchel B. Wallerstein. Combating Terrorism: Strategies and Approaches.
Washington, D.C.: CQ Press, 2008.
Thomas J. Bradley. Editor. Homeland Security. Annual
Editions. Second Edition. Dubuque, Iowa:
McGraw-Hill, 2008.
Vincent Burns and Kate Dempsey Peterson. Terrorism:
A Documentary and Reference Guide. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Security International, 2005.
William M. Evan. War & Peace in an Age of Terrorism: A Reader.
New York: Pearson/Longman, 2006.
James A. Fagan. When Terrorism Strikes Home: Defending the United
States. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2006.
James J. F. Forest. Editor.
Homeland Security: Protecting America's Targets. Three Volumes. Volume I: Borders and Points
of Entry; Volume II: Public Spaces and Social Institutions;
Volume III: Critical Infrastructures. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Security International, 2006
James J. F. Forest. Editor. The Making
of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training, and Root Causes. Westport,
Connecticut: Praeger Security International, 2005.
Fawaz A. Gerges. The
Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went Global. New York: Cambridge University
Press. 2005.
Daniel Goldstein. Securing America's Future.
National Strategy in the Information Age.
Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Security
International, 2005.
Christopher Hewitt. Political Violence and Terror in Modern America: A
Chronology. Connecticut: Praeger Security
International, 2005.
Russell D. Howard, James J. Forest. Editors. Weapons of Mass
Destruction and Terrorism. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008.
Richard J. Kilroy, Jr., Editior. Threats to Homeland Security: An
All-Hazards Perspective. Wiley & Sons, 2008.
Bernard Lewis. What Went Wrong: The Clash Between Islam and Modernity
in the Middle East. New York: Haper/Collins,
2003.
Brigitte L. Nacos. Terrorism and
Counterterrorism: Understanding Threats and Responses in the Post - 9/11 World. Second Edition.
New York:
Pearson/Longman, 2008.
Dennis Okerstrom. Peace, War, and Terrorism.
New York: Pearson/Longman, 2006.
Richard A. Posner. Preventing Surprise Attacks:
Intelligence Reform in the Wake of 9/11. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005
Barry R. Schneider and Jim A. Davis. Combating
Weapons of Mass Destruction: Avoiding the Abyss. Connecticut: Praeger Security International, 2006.
Jessica Stern. Terrorism in the Name of God: Why Religious
Militants Kill. New York: Harper/Collins Publisher, 2004.
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