POS BC 3055y
Colloquium on POLITICAL VIOLENCE AND TERRORISM
Spring 1999
Sanya Popovic´ 

Introduction:

Our primary aim in this colloquium is to examine political violence and terrorism, from both a comparative and international relations perspective.  In addition, an important goal is to evaluate how policy makers and scholars approach the problem of terrorism.  In our class discussions, we will identify and discuss the following:

1. the problems of defining terrorism, as well as the theoretical writings on political violence and terrorism;

2. the distinction between terrorism and revolutionary warfare, with an emphasis on the legitimacy potential (or lack thereof) for terrorist groups;

3. the evolving nature of the threat posed by political violence and terrorism.  This will include a discussion of narcoterrorism, the interlaced relationship between terrorism and the media, the role of the international legal system, multilateral responses to the threat, and the implications of these developments for both vulnerabilities and responses to political violence and terrorism.

In addition, we will view a BBC documentary on terrorism in the Middle East, Peru, and Northern Ireland.

The following books will be used heavily and have been ordered at the Columbia University Bookstore and Labyrinth Books:

Chomsky, Noam. Pirates and Emperors
Falkenrath, Richard A., et al. America’s Achilles Heel: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Terrorism and Covert Attack
Tarazona-Sevillano, Gabriela. Sendero Lüminoso and the Threat of Narcoterrorism
Taylor, Peter. Behind the Mask: The IRA and Sinn Fein
Wardlaw, Grant. Political Terrorism: Theory, Tactics, and Countermeasures, Second Edition (Cambridge University Press)

All reading will be on reserve at Barnard's Wollman Library.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. An analytic colloquium paper, approximately 20 pages in length, which will be due on the last day of class.  Choice of topic is open, contingent upon approval by the instructor.  The paper will, ideally, spring from one of the readings.  One possibility for the colloquium paper would be to examine a terrorist group not covered in the class as a touchstone against which to evaluate the conceptual issues and debates raised in the class sessions.

   A one-page statement (which will include: the country[ies] or group[s] you plan to examine, the topic, a short bibliography, and a summary of your reasons for wanting to study the questions raised in your paper) will be due in class on February 25th.

   The paper will account for 50% of your final grade.

2. Class participation on the readings will constitute the remaining 50% of your course grade.

Nota Bene: Students with disabilities who will be taking this course and who may need disability- related classroom accommodation are encouraged to make an appointment to see me as soon as possible,  Also, stop by the Office for Disability Services in 7 Milbank to register for support services.

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READINGS

I. What is Terrorism? Theory and History

1. Introductory Session

   Avishag Gordon, “Terrorism on the Internet: Discovering the Unsought”. Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 9 (4), Winter 1997: 159-165.

2. Definitions

   Thomas J. Badley, “Defining International Terrorism: A Pragmatic Approach”. Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 10 (1), April 1998: 90-107.

   Christopher Hitchens, "Wanton Acts of Usage.  Terrorism: A Cliché in Search of a Meaning." Harper's, September 1986: 66-70.

   Chalmers Johnson, "Perspectives on Terrorism," in Laqueur and Alexander, The Terrorism Reader: 267-285.

   Grant Wardlaw, Political Terrorism, ("An Introduction to Political Terrorism"): 1-61.

II. Revolutionary War, Terrorism, and Minority Nationalist Groups

1. Introduction

   Daniel Byman, “The Logic of Ethnic Terrorism”. Studies in Conflict and Terrorism, Vol. 21 (2) April-June 1998: 149-169.
    
   Khacig Toloyan, "Cultural Narrative and the Motivation of the Terrorist," in David C. Rapoport, editor, Inside Terrorist Organizations: 217-233.

   M.C. Hutchinson, "The Concept of Revolutionary Terrorism," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol. 6 (3) 1973: 383-96.

   Thornton, "Terror As A Weapon of Political Agitation," in Harry Eckstein, Internal War: 71-99.

2. Terrorism in the Middle East

   In The Terrorism Reader:
   1) ("Platform of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine"): 145- 148;
   2) Yehoshafat Harabi, ("Al Fatah's Doctrine"): 149-152;
   3) Aaron Miller, ("Portrait of Abu Nidal"): 309-314;
   4) Hizballah, ("Open Letter to the Downtrodden in Lebanon and the World"): 315- 317.

   Barry Rubin, Chapter 2: "The Political Uses of Terrorism in the Middle East," in Rubin, editor, The Politics of Terrorism: 27-66.

   George Quester, Chapter 8: "State Sponsored Terrorism in the Middle East," in Stohl & Lopez, Terrible Beyond Endurance?: 225-246.

   Noam Chomsky, Pirates and Emperors: Preface; Chapter 1 ("The Case of the Middle East"); and Chapter 2 ("Middle East Terrorism and the American Ideological System"): 1-102.

3. Nationalist Terrorism in Northern Ireland: The Provisional IRA and the Ulster Defense Force

   Peter Taylor, Behind the Mask: The IRA and Sinn Fein.

III. Sendero Lüminoso in Peru: "Narcoterrorism"

Gabriela Tarazona-Sevillano, Sendero Lüminoso and the Threat of Narcoterrorism (CSIS Washington Occasional Paper).

Abraham H. Miller and Nicholas A. Damask, “The Dual Myths of `Narco-Terrorism’: How Myths Drive Policy”, Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 8 (1): Spring 1996: 114-131.

IV. Terrorism and the Media

Michael Delli Carpini, “Television and Terrorism,” Western Political Quarterly, Vol. 40, March 1987: 45-64.

Ronald D. Crelinstsen, “Television and Terrorism: Implications for Crisis Management and Policy- Making,” Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 9 (4) Winter 1997: 8-32.

Eytan Gilboa, “Effects of Televised Presidential Addresses on Public Opinion: President Reagan and Terrorism in the Middle East,” Presidential Studies Quarterly, Vol. 20 (1), Winter 1990: 43-53.

Abraham H. Miller, "Preserving Liberty in a Society Under Siege: The Media and the `Guilford Four'," Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 2 (3), Autumn 1990: 305-323

Wardlaw, Chapter 9 ("Terrorism and the Media: A Symbiotic Relationship"), in Wardlaw, Political Terrorism.

V. Responding to Terrorism: Case Studies

1. Terrorism and Law (International and Domestic)

   Louis Henkin, “The Use of Force: Law and U.S. Policy,” in Henkin, Right versus Might: International Law and the Use of Force: 37-69.

   Abraham D. Sofaer, "Terrorism and the Law," in The Terrorism Reader: 369-78.

   Seymour Maxwell Finger, "The United Nations and International Terrorism," pp: 259-261, in Kegley, International Terrorism: Characteristics, Causes, Controls: 259-261.

   Wardlaw, Chapter 8 ("Counterterrorist Policies: The Fundamental Choices"): 65-78;
   Chapter 11 ("The Legal Regulation of Terrorism: International and National Measures"): 103-130;
   Chapter 12 ("The Intelligence Function"): 131-146; and
   Chapter 14 ("State Involvement in International Terrorism"): 174-186.

2. Case Studies & Trends

   Michael Barkun, “Religion, Militias, and Oklahoma City: The Mind of Conspiratorialists” Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 8 (1), Spring 1996: 50-64.

   Martin Durham, “Preparing for Armageddon; Citizen Militias, the Patriot Movement, and the Oklahoma City Bombing,” Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 8 (1), Spring 1996: 65-79.

   Richard A. Falkenrath, et al., America’s Achilles Heel; Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Terrorism and Covert Attack.

   Sanya Popovic´, "The Case Against Libya: What Do We Know and What Do We Understand?" Albany Law Journal of Science & Technology, Vol. 3 (2) 1994: 225-234.

   Wardlaw, Chapter 16 ("The Future of Political Terrorism"): 187-210.