Inside Terrorism

Front Cover
Columbia University Press, Jun 6, 2006 - Political Science - 456 pages

Bruce Hoffman's Inside Terrorism has remained a seminal work for understanding the historical evolution of terrorism and the terrorist mindset. In this revised edition of the classic text, Hoffman analyzes the new adversaries, motivations, and tactics of global terrorism that have emerged in recent years, focusing specifically on how al Qaeda has changed since 9/11; the reasons behind its resiliency, resonance, and longevity; and its successful use of the Internet and videotapes to build public support and gain new recruits. Hoffman broadens the discussion by evaluating the potential repercussions of the Iraqi insurgency, the use of suicide bombers, terrorist exploitation of new communications media, and the likelihood of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear terrorist strike.

Closer to home, Hoffman reconsiders the Timothy McVeigh case and the threats posed by American Christian white supremacists and abortion opponents as well as those posed by militant environmentalists and animal rights activists. He argues that the attacks on the World Trade Center fundamentally transformed the West's view of the terrorist threat. More relevant and necessary than ever, Inside Terrorism continues to be the definitive work on the history and future of global terrorism.

From inside the book

Contents

Chapter 1 Defining Terrorism
1
Chapter 2 The End of Empire and the Origins of Contemporary Terrorism
43
Chapter 3 The Internationalization of Terrorism
63
Chapter 4 Religion and Terrorism
81
Chapter 5 Suicide Terrorism
131
Chapter 6 The Old Media Terrorismand Public Opinion
173
Chapter 7 The New Media Terrorism and the Shaping of Global Opinion
197
Tactics Targets Tradecraft and Technologies
229
Chapter 9 Terrorism Today and Tomorrow
257
Notes
297
Bibliography
369
Index
415
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About the author (2006)

Bruce Hoffman is a professor at Georgetown University's Edmund A WalshSchool of Foreign Service. He is also a senior fellow at the Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York, and editor of the Columbia University Press series Columbia Studies in Terrorism and Irregular Warfare.

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