| What is terrorism? What are the causes of terrorism? What do terrorists want, and can they be thwarted? What policies salve the conditions that give rise to terrorism, and what counter-terrorism policies are most effective to combat this type of violence? Are civil liberties incompatible with counter-terrorism? These—and other controversial questions—will be the subject of this course. We will study theoretical works on terrorism, as well as histories of specific terrorist organizations from across the world. Included in the course are readings not only from journalists, historians, and policymakers, but also fiction writers. The goal of this course is to give students a well-rounded, comprehensive understanding of one of the most pressing national security issues of our time. |