From the moment that Islamic militants crashed hijacked passenger planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, America became involved in a costly "war against terrorism" that seemingly has no end. Essential Readings on Political Terrorism is a comprehensive source of information about the nature of terrorism as a socio-political phenomenon and a guide to the major threats, trends, and conundrums it poses.
This rich collection of articles offers views on terrorism by leading thinkers in political science, sociology, psychology, and the health sciences. Key issues include biological, chemical, and nuclear threats; the conflict between security and freedom; the sociological nature of terrorist groups; American terrorists such as Timothy McVeigh and the Unabomber; governmental counter-terrorism policy; determinants of state involvement in international terrorism; militant cultures and philosophies; the internet as a terrorist medium; and posttraumatic stress disorder and related psychiatric reactions to terrorist violence. These views will be of interest and value to students of political terrorism and social movements, politicians, public health professionals, military personnel, as well as anyone concerned about the threats unleashed by terrorism and the safeguarding of democratic institutions.
