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Voices of Terror: Manifestos, Writings and Manuals of Al Qaeda, Hamas, and other Terrorists from around the World and Throughout the Ages
Renowned historian and international scholar Walter Laqueur offers a sweeping survey of writing on one of the most pressing issues facing the world the use of violence as a tool for political change.
From ancient Roman tyrannicides and French revolutionaries to the Weathermen and Osama Bin Laden, Voices of Terror brings together 120 of history's most controversial figures, militant organizations and guerrilla groups for a rare glimpse into the minds behind the violence. This important new anthology includes a substantial selection of material by Islamist terrorists, about the evolving concept of jihad and on post-September 11, 2001 perspectives.
With commentary from Karl Marx, Emma Goldman, Mao Tse Tung, Che Guevara, and Menachem Begin, among others, and documents of al Qaeda, Hamas and the PLO, Voices of Terror is an essential resource for anyone interested in international current events.
From ancient Roman tyrannicides and French revolutionaries to the Weathermen and Osama Bin Laden, Voices of Terror brings together 120 of history's most controversial figures, militant organizations and guerrilla groups for a rare glimpse into the minds behind the violence. This important new anthology includes a substantial selection of material by Islamist terrorists, about the evolving concept of jihad and on post-September 11, 2001 perspectives.
With commentary from Karl Marx, Emma Goldman, Mao Tse Tung, Che Guevara, and Menachem Begin, among others, and documents of al Qaeda, Hamas and the PLO, Voices of Terror is an essential resource for anyone interested in international current events.
520 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Walter Laqueur
141 books46 followersWalter Ze'ev Laqueur was an American historian, journalist and political commentator. Laqueur was born in Breslau, Lower Silesia, Prussia (modern Wrocław, Poland), into a Jewish family. In 1938, he left Germany for the British Mandate of Palestine. His parents, who were unable to leave, became victims of the Holocaust.
Laqueur lived in Israel from 1938 to 1953. After one year at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he joined a Kibbutz and worked as an agricultural laborer from 1939 to 1944. In 1944, he moved to Jerusalem, where he worked as a journalist until 1953, covering Palestine and other countries in the Middle East.
Since 1955 Laqueur has lived in London. He was founder and editor, with George Mosse, of the Journal of Contemporary History and of Survey from 1956 to 1964. He was also founding editor of The Washington Papers. He was Director of the Institute of Contemporary History and the Wiener Library in London from 1965 to 1994. From 1969 he was a member, and later Chairman (until 2000), of the International Research Council of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington. He was Professor of the History of Ideas at Brandeis University from 1968 to 1972, and University Professor at Georgetown University from 1976 to 1988. He has also been a visiting professor of history and government at Harvard, the University of Chicago, Tel Aviv University and Johns Hopkins University.
Laqueur's main works deal with European history in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially Russian history and German history, as well as the history of the Middle East. The topics he has written about include the German Youth Movement, Zionism, Israeli history, the cultural history of the Weimar Republic and Russia, Communism, the Holocaust, fascism, and the diplomatic history of the Cold War. His books have been translated into many languages, and he was one of the founders of the study of political violence, guerrilla warfare and terrorism. His comments on international affairs have appeared in many American and European newspapers and periodicals.
(Wikipedia)
Laqueur lived in Israel from 1938 to 1953. After one year at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he joined a Kibbutz and worked as an agricultural laborer from 1939 to 1944. In 1944, he moved to Jerusalem, where he worked as a journalist until 1953, covering Palestine and other countries in the Middle East.
Since 1955 Laqueur has lived in London. He was founder and editor, with George Mosse, of the Journal of Contemporary History and of Survey from 1956 to 1964. He was also founding editor of The Washington Papers. He was Director of the Institute of Contemporary History and the Wiener Library in London from 1965 to 1994. From 1969 he was a member, and later Chairman (until 2000), of the International Research Council of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington. He was Professor of the History of Ideas at Brandeis University from 1968 to 1972, and University Professor at Georgetown University from 1976 to 1988. He has also been a visiting professor of history and government at Harvard, the University of Chicago, Tel Aviv University and Johns Hopkins University.
Laqueur's main works deal with European history in the 19th and 20th centuries, especially Russian history and German history, as well as the history of the Middle East. The topics he has written about include the German Youth Movement, Zionism, Israeli history, the cultural history of the Weimar Republic and Russia, Communism, the Holocaust, fascism, and the diplomatic history of the Cold War. His books have been translated into many languages, and he was one of the founders of the study of political violence, guerrilla warfare and terrorism. His comments on international affairs have appeared in many American and European newspapers and periodicals.
(Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 21, 2007
This book is enlightening if you accept the thesis that "terrorism" is only perpetrated by muslim and/or communist extremists - the belief that "terrorism" is something that "they" do, and not something States do.
March 19, 2021
Walter Laqueur takes us through a journey and a list of documents created by famous Islamic radical thinkers like Sayyd Qutb or Osama bin Laden.
September 20, 2024
Excellent, if terrifying. A very elucidating collection of terroristic, anarchist and other violent ideas as throughout history.
July 30, 2013
My Humanities professor once remarked that every generation has it's challenge like WW2 or Vietnam, and continued to say that 9-11 and the ensuing refocus on terrorism would be this generations challenge.
Voices of Terror is a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn more about terrorism. The ideas can be a little repetitive, but the basic ideas behind terrorism have not really changed for thousands of years...i.e group a feels like group b has done them wrong and they have chosen to fight back using terrorism. The methods have changed over time, but not the basic ideas behind terrorism. The book begins with writings from Sophicles and other classical philosophical figures, goes through Lenin, Trotsky, IRA, LTTE, Al Qaeda, among others, even covers groups I knew nothing about previously like the FARC in Columbia and others. The problem with anthologies is everything is a very small sample, but generally the reader grasps the basic point.
Voices of Terror is a great place to start for anyone wanting to learn more about terrorism. The ideas can be a little repetitive, but the basic ideas behind terrorism have not really changed for thousands of years...i.e group a feels like group b has done them wrong and they have chosen to fight back using terrorism. The methods have changed over time, but not the basic ideas behind terrorism. The book begins with writings from Sophicles and other classical philosophical figures, goes through Lenin, Trotsky, IRA, LTTE, Al Qaeda, among others, even covers groups I knew nothing about previously like the FARC in Columbia and others. The problem with anthologies is everything is a very small sample, but generally the reader grasps the basic point.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews