Terrorism Today (Cass Series on Political Violence) [Paperback]

Christopher C Harmon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9780714680590 | ISBN-13: 978-0714680590 | Publication Date: May 1, 2000 | Edition: 1

Drawing directly on the words and ideas of terrorists themselves, this book is an examination of patterns, current trends and future threats in terrorism world-wide. It explores the ideology and psychology, the politics and policies, the strategies and operations, of many active small groups and major insurgencies. The terrorist leader emerges as a calculating, innovated and often well-educated person whose use of violence against the innocent is calibrated for maximum effects. The final chapter is a discussion of the problems of counter-terrorism, and makes several recommendations.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'. . . a masterly survey of the big picture of world violence. . . provides many useful strategy recommendations which Western governments would do well to study.' 
Times Literary Supplement
 
'Considering the continuing challenge that terrorism will undoubtedly pose in the years to come, Harmon’s book offers a welcome introductory survey of the contemporary reality of terrorism.’ 
Journal of Contingencies & Crisis Management

‘Harmon's work is an original and comprehensive assessment and critique of the use by sub-state groups of terrorism as a political instrument to attain political power.'
Journal of Homeland Security

‘This is a remarkably comprehensive survey and a helpful reference, including valuable resources such as basic information about the major international organizations and a glossary of terrorist groups at the end’.
Joint Force Quarterly

'Christopher Harmon's book offers a well-balanced and reasoned discussion of developments in terrorism during the past with a glimpse into the future.’
Parameters
 
‘Terrorism Today was [first] published two years prior to “9/11,” yet it remains the best single volume on post–Cold War terrorism, because of its “straight ahead” style that leads the reader through the types, techniques, and objectives of various groups without an excess of academic jargon.'
Naval War College Review
 

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

Christopher C. Harmon holds the Kim T. Adamson Chair of Insurgency & Terrorism at Marine Corps University. His previous books include Statecraft and Power (1994) and Terrorism Today (Cass 2000, first edition).

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (May 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780714680590
• ISBN-13: 978-0714680590
• ASIN: 0714680591
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #488,557 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Christopher C. Harmon is the author of successive editions of TERRORISM TODAY (2000; 2007) --- books written for the Cass Series on Political Violence overseen by Paul Wilkinson. Dr. Harmon first published on terrorism in 1982 and has worked the field ever since, teaching courses at a half-dozen graduate schools. From 2003 onward, his many public lectures (e.g. Heritage Foundation; Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars) and publications did much to initiate the now-widespread conversations about "How Terrorist Groups End." Harmon just served 3 years as curricula chief for the terrorism program at the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies. Today he holds the Matthew C. Horner Chair of Military Theory at Marine Corps University, where he's beginning his fifth book.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An important work, October 27, 2001

By 

"tk_ba" (Broken Arrow, OK United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism Today (Cass Series on Political Violence) (Paperback)

Within the broader framework of outlining the goals, motives and strategies of modern terrorist groups, Harmon documents some very specific examples of people, places and events.

This is not a catalog of terrorist groups or a chronology of individual terrorist acts. Rather, it is an in-depth look at the problem as a whole. Harmon uses examples from groups all over the world and in the process discredits such notions as "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."

In the chapter dealing with future threats, Harmon all but predicted the events of September 11th.

Anyone interested in a scholarly look at the terrorist threat since the end of the cold war, should read this book.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Readable, Rigorous and Comprehensive, March 11, 2003

By 

"top_cat1980" (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism Today (Cass Series on Political Violence) (Paperback)

The market for books on terrorism has flourished in the months following September 11th. This has been a mixed blessing. On the one hand, quality works of enduring value have had increased exposure, on the other hand we have seen a flood of books of extremely dubious merit and sensationalism. This book belongs in the first category and deserves more exposure than it has had.

Harmon (a lecturer at the Marine Corps Command and Staff College) provides a readable and wide ranging overview of his subject; with coverage of the politics and effectiveness of terrorism, terrorist groups, counter-terrorism methods and a section debunking some of the many and varied misconceptions and popular myths regarding terrorist groups. The text is scattered with thumbnail descriptions of various leading terrorist groups, terrorists and important works of literature in the terrorism canon.

This book serves as an excellent general introduction to the subject and acts as a solid foundation upon which the newcomer to the subject can build. It belongs alongside the serious academic texts on terrorism rather than the sensational journalistic mush that is now common on the shelves of mainstream book shops and yet is still readable and easy to get into.

If you only ever read one book on the general theme of terrorism you could do worse than making it this one. Undergraduate students studying terrorism should make a point of giving it a look too.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review by Times Literary Supplement, October 29, 2000

By 

CCH excerpting TLS (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Terrorism Today (Cass Series on Political Violence) (Paperback)

Terrorism authority and foreign correspondent Ronald Payne reviewed TERRORISM TODAY in the August 18, 2000 edition of the prestigious "TLS"--Times Literary Supplement (London). Payne calls this book "a masterly survey of the big picture of world violence" and "a comprehensive survey of what can be done to cope with the problem..." The book "provides many useful strategy recommendations which Western governments would do well to study. It also provides an up-to-date glossary of operational terrorist groups." -CCH