Terrorism and International Justice [Paperback]

James P. Sterba (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 3, 2003 | ISBN-10: 0195158881 | ISBN-13: 978-0195158885

Since 9/11, we need to better understand the terrorism we face and reflect upon how we should best respond to it. Edited by James P. Sterba, this collection of new essays on terrorism and international justice focuses on three central questions: What is the nature and rhetoric of terrorism? Who are the terrorists and why do they hate? and What is a morally justified response to terrorism? Prominent philosophers and political thinkers--including Shannon E. French, Tomis Kapitan, Noam Chomsky, David B. Burrell, Robert L. Phillips, Zayn Kassam, Louis P. Pojman, Daniele Archibugi, Iris Marion Young, Claudia Card, Richard W. Miller, Martha C. Nussbaum, and Sterba himself--provide diverse perspectives on these and other related questions. The first post-9/11 collection of primarily philosophical articles on this topic, Terrorism and International Justice is ideal for courses in moral problems and ethics, social and political philosophy, war and terrorism, international relations and foreign policy, and peace studies. It will also interest anyone who wants to delve more deeply into the philosophical issues of the post-9/11 world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James P. Sterba is at University of Notre Dame.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 3, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195158881
• ISBN-13: 978-0195158885
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,163,216 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Boring, Repetitive, Non-productive, May 4, 2006

By 

Hikey (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism and International Justice (Hardcover)

I read this book for an undergrad philosophy course, and found it pretty worthless. The individual submissions tend towards repetition, with an over-emphasis on defining terrorism, and not much justification for the strategies they propose to combat it. Generally, however, the essays just don't cover much ground, and the discussion helps no one but professional philosophers. Any one with a practical interest in combating terrorism, be they military, political, or in any other field, would find the book unhelpful.

The Chomsky and Sterba submissions are interesting, but others, such as Philips', are just plain weird. Philips' solution to long-term terrorism is to give in to the demands of fundamentalists, and take our society backwards to meet theirs. It would be a scary thought if he could actually argue for it well. Teachers, please don't assign this in class, because in addition to the above mentioned problems, its also very boring.

1.0 out of 5 stars not for reflective readers!, July 13, 2004

By 

JQJ "jones-qua-jones" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism and International Justice (Paperback)

Anyone seeking a serious, intellectually grown-up exploration of this challenging topic will find Terrorism and International Justice to be a grave disappointment. Far from promoting dialogue and reflection, it is as though the editor, James Sterba, plugs his ears and chants the party line at the top of his lungs. While the contributions are by no means uniformly bad, the worst ones show a profound and pernicious disengagement from reality--including the reality of terrorism, the stakes involved, and the significance of how we react to it. Basically, the central (or most persistent) suggestion seems to boil down to this: As Americans, we should accept as legitimate every grievance (real and imagined) that Islamic terrorists have against us, as a means of seeking rapprochement with the Muslim world. Moreover, we should do so without in any way encouraging our would-be interlocutors to examine their own societies' contributions to the situations that fuel their anger towards us. Not that anyone ever actually asserts this explicitly, mind you: but there is no mistaking the tenor of what is said.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Terrorism & International Justice, May 18, 2004

By 

Philosophy of Law Student Group, CSUF (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism and International Justice (Paperback)

This book investigates the root of terrorism and the reasoning behind it, while exploring how the civilized world can deal with it within just and moral boundaries.

The authors of the various chapters attempt to illuminate differing views about the reasoning behind such acts. However in most cases, the investigation is quickly halted and satisfied in putting the burden on the Western world. In like manner, and in a fairly passive approach, the book downplays the significance of the religious roots that has been at the core of so many wars over the past 1400 years.

It is difficult to find common justice to deal with the terrorism problem on a global scale when the motivating force that initiates the problem is to the contrary of that justice.