The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training, and Root Causes, Volume I, Recruitment, Volume II, Training, Volume III, Root Causes: The Making of ... Training, and Root Causes (3 Volume Set) [Hardcover]

James J.F. Forest (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0275985431 | ISBN-13: 978-0275985431 | Publication Date: November 30, 2005

Global terrorism has become a frightening reality. From New York City and Washington, D.C., to Bali, Moscow, and Madrid, ordinary citizens throughout the civilized world live with increasing fear of a deadly attack from unknown individuals, for reasons many of us cannot fathom. National and international security forces are on constant alert, desperate to prevent the next catastrophe, and yet many observers agree that our military and intelligence services are spread too thin and face insurmountable hurdles in the global war on terrorism. The situation calls for greater engagement with the public, as the necessary eyes and ears of the global anti-terrorism coalition. However, to be effective the public must be equipped with the knowledge of how, why, and where an individual becomes a terrorist. This is the primary goal of this set, which seeks to answer one central question: What do we currently know about the transformation through which an individual becomes a terrorist?

Overall, we have learned that the transformation through which an individual becomes a terrorist involves a variety of complex and intertwined issues. A single contributing factor—such as personal religious conviction, widespread poverty, or an oppressive government—may not necessarily lead to the formation of terrorist organizations. However, the current body of research on terrorism suggests that a combination of factors will, in most cases, result in some form of terrorism. This combination differs widely by region, and at minimum involves motivations, opportunities, contexts, processes, personal disposition, and preparation. Volume I deals with recruitment means and methods, and includes discussions of psychological, social, ideological, and religious dimensions of recruitment. Volume II addresses the training of terrorists, including teaching tools and training manuals, and it includes fascinating case studies from Al Qaeda, Hezbollah, Aum Shinrikyo, Christian militias, and other groups. Volume III is devoted to root causes, including their political, religious, and socioeconomic dimensions. Appendices to these volumes feature profiles of terrorist organizations, samples of terrorist training manuals, and recommended resources for the study of terrorism.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In this three-volume set, Forest brings together articles by over 50 international experts that address three areas: Recruitment (Volume 1), Training (Volume 2), and Root Causes (Volume 3). The word terrorism comes from the Latin terrere (to cause to tremble), explains Forest, and although there is no consensus on the modern definition of terrorism, it is commonly known as acts of politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents. With a special emphasis on the psychological, social, ideological, and religious aspects of terrorism recruitment….[t]his is a wise investment."

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Library Journal

"The library of worthwhile works on terrorism is about to grow exponentially with the publication of a massive three-volume compendium, The Making of a Terrorist, edited by James J. F. Forest, director of terrorism studies at the U.S. Military Academy.

The three volumes examine, respectively, recruitment, training, and root causes. Each volume contains useful and original work by journalists, government officials, and academics. But the third book, dealing with root causes, is by far the most valuable….Who are they? Does it matter who they are, or is it enough to know what they do? What drives them? We don't seem any closer to the answers than we were on September 10, 2001, but at least now, with the help of work such as that represented in The Making of a Terrorist, we're beginning to ask the questions."

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Wilson Quarterly

"The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training, and Root Causes surpasses all other lighter treatments on the topic, providing the depth which makes it highly recommendable to security collections, military libraries, and more. Three weighty volumes thoroughly cover the topic….This set is an invaluable 'must' for any seeking more depth and detail than the usual casual reviews of problems and theories."

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Midwest Book Review's California BookWatch

"The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training, and Root Causes surpasses all other lighter treatments on the topic, providing the depth which makes it highly recommendable to security collections, military libraries, and more. Three weighty volumes thoroughly cover the topic….From myths and traditions to differences between how terrorist wars are made, history and theory blend. This set is an invaluable 'must' for any seeking more depth and detail than the usual casual reviews of problems and theories."

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California Bookwatch

"[A] useful and practical reference for commanders, planners, and analysts. As its title suggests, the three volume set aims to provide an understanding of terrorist phenomena, focusing on the actual mechanics of terrorism….What emerges from these studies is a collage of terrorist practices as they are, and not a neat, coherent, and artificial portrait of causes and cures for terrorism. The Making of a Terrorist, therefore provides essential and accessible background reading for the military practitioner in the War on Terrorism….The Making of a Terrorist provides practitioners with increments of understanding on which they can base a variety of solutions to a myriad of threats. Based on that understanding, we can then begin to formulate a response. The Making of a Terrorist is not the answer, but it helps to frame the question."

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Parameters

Book Description

Investigates not only how and why an individual becomes a terrorist, but where, in which camps and through which methods, with great attention to the differences and similarities among a wide variety of active terrorist groups.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1280 pages
• Publisher: Praeger (November 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0275985431
• ISBN-13: 978-0275985431
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 4.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,944,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

James J.F. Forest, Ph.D. is an associate professor at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on terrorism and security studies, and a senior fellow with the Joint Special Operations University, where he holds a TS/SCI security clearance with the U.S. Department of Defense.

Dr. Forest is the former Director of Terrorism Studies at the United States Military Academy. During his tenure (2001-2010) he taught courses in terrorism, counterterrorism, information warfare, international relations and sub-Saharan Africa. He also directed a series of research initiatives and education programs for the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, covering topics such as terrorist recruitment, training, and organizational knowledge transfer. Dr. Forest was selected by the Center for American Progress and Foreign Policy Magazine as one of "America's most esteemed terrorism and national security experts" and participated in their annual Terrorism Index studies 2006 thru 2009. He has been interviewed by many newspaper, radio and television journalists, and is regularly invited to give speeches and lectures in the U.S. and other countries. He has published 11 books and dozens of journal articles, and has testified before committees of the U.S. Senate.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Training the hearts and minds of terrorists., March 11, 2006

By 

D. Donovan, Editor/Sr. Reviewer "California B... (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Making of a Terrorist: Recruitment, Training, and Root Causes, Volume I, Recruitment, Volume II, Training, Volume III, Root Causes: The Making of ... Training, and Root Causes (3 Volume Set) (Hardcover)

THE MAKING OF A TERRORIST: RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND ROOT CAUSES surpasses all other lighter treatments on the topic, providing the depth which makes it highly recommendable to security collections, military libraries, and more. Three weighty volumes thoroughly cover the topic. VOLUME 1: RECRUITMENT delves into techniques of education and recruitment in terrorist organizations, from recruiting from prisons and young people to locating those with unresolved trauma, fundamentalist belief systems, and the military. Chapters delve into the world history of such recruitment tactics. VOLUME 2: TRAINING surveys different terrorist training and indoctrination methods around the world, considering elements of charismatic leadership, teaching inductees how to prepare for death in the cause, and surveying the methods of different terrorist training groups and camps around the world. VOLUME 3: ROOT CAUSES examines politics, attitudes toward democracy and other institutions, from religious sources of violence to how an idealistic ideology is fostered and promoted. From myths and traditions to differences between how terrorist wars are made, history and theory blend. This set is an invaluable 'must' for any seeking more depth and detail than the usual casual reviews of problems and theories.