Terrorism

Many people see that the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, changed the face of the world, and pushed the issue of terrorism to occupy the top of many political agendas, and led to a series of global events including the Iraq War and the invasion of Afghanistan. This book from the "Very Short Introduction" series draws a clear path through the diligent efforts to understand terrorism in the modern age. Townsend presents many historical examples of terrorism, all of which he has chosen well. He discusses the origins of terrorism in history: the first terrorist groups, the philosophical legacy of the principle of "propaganda of the deed," assassinations as terrorism, and terrorism during the French Revolution. The author also explores different types of terrorism: revolutionary terrorism, nationalist terrorism, religious terrorism, and concludes his book with a discussion of counter-terrorism strategies, clearly illustrating the inherent risks in this approach.