Terrorism and Counterterrorism

by Brigitte L. Nacos

Focusing on the continued terrorist threat by jihadist groups, such as Al Qaeda and ISIS, and homegrown violent far-right and far-left extremists in the West, Terrorism and Counterterrorism investigates this form of political violence in a historical and contemporary context. In this comprehensive and highly readable text, renowned expert Brigitte Nacos clearly defines terrorism’s diverse causes, actors, and strategies; outlines anti- and counterterrorist responses; and highlights terrorism’s relationship with the public and media. Terrorism and Counterterrorism introduces students to the field’s main debates and helps them critically assess our understanding of, and our strategies for, addressing this complex and enduring issue.

New to the Seventh



The new chapter 3 reviews the history of terrorism—both domestic and international, whereas the new chapter 4 analyses the terrorist landscape in the third decade of the 21st century—including the transnational links between violent far-right and far-left violent extremists. The discussion of religious terrorism in chapter 5 ends with an added section about QAnon as religiopolitical cult. An extended section in chapter 7 is devoted to the increasingly militant roles of females in violent far-right extremism. The revised chapter 10 starts with the withdrawal of U.S.-led troops from Afghanistan and an account of total costs spent on the post-9/11 war against terrorism before discussing the counterterrorism strategies of presidents G.W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden. The failures and successes of the U.S. intelligence community in efforts to prevent terrorism at home with relevant data and case studies are new features in chapter 12.

Genres: Nonfiction, Terrorism, School

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 28, 2005

About the author

Brigitte Lebens Nacos (born 1936) is an Adjunct Professor in political science at Columbia University.[1] She has written on the news media, the politics of Germany, and terrorism.

She is a joint author of a paper, "Prevention of Terrorism in Post-9/11 America" which was delivered at the Summer 2006 meeting of the American Political Science Association; the paper addresses the correlation between increases in terrorism alert levels and the popularity of U.S. President George W. Bush. Referring to her study of terrorism alerts, media coverage, and Bush's popularity, journalist Matthew Stannard wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that "The media will repeat the president's remarks. Public fear of terrorism will increase. And the president's poll numbers will rise."

Reviews

[J.R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A treatsies of terrorism and counterterrorism. Examination of the definition of terrorism, a history of terrorism, terrorist organizational structures and variable that influence it, and differing counterterrorism measures being implemented by the US and other western countries.

The book gives you a solid foundation to begin exploring the niche facets of terrorism. It's academic in nature, so if you're looking for narrative or fascinating anecdotal examples, you won't find it.

I'd say one of the bigger take aways is the expansion on the contemporary definition of terrorism. There are plenty of people who muddle the word and use tropes, such as, "one person's freedom fighter is another person's terrorist."

According to Dr. Nacos [paraphrasing], contemporary terrorists are non-state actors who seek to obtain favorable political endstates through the targeted use of violence, or threat of violence, against non-combatants.

I think that is a fair and specific litmus test; non-state actor, political goals, systematic targeting civilians, desire to harm as many civilians as possible.

[Julia Schreder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and interesting. Professor Nacos is a great writer.

[Eugenia Montiel Aceti · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read some of the chapters of this book in order to write an undergraduate university paper.

[Kw Estes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This text serves as an overview of 'terrorism' and how it has been responded to throughout the 20th century. I must put quotations around 'terrorism', because Nacos paints with such a large brush when describing the phenomenon. Are environmental or animal rights activists who defile buildings really the 'evil beings' we normally associate with the word? One must be careful in writing about such a subject that the label is not used so profligately as to render it meaningless--simply a term to be used against all of those who counter the 'is' with their idea of the 'ought'. Often, the latter is really all that is meant by the term, and yet just as often the term carries real weight (as when a suicide bomber blows up a bus full of unsuspecting people). Many times throughout the book, I thought to myself: 'States do these types of things everyday, and on a much larger scale.' Wars, which are often glorified in our culture, have taken many more lives than terrorism ever has. Nacos does not spend too much time on ideas like this, nor on searching ideas generally. A shallow book of facts with an air of officialdom.

[Reader2007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrorism and Counterterrorism--very good.