Customer Reviews

Terrorism and International Justice

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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.

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.

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.

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 invesitgation 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.