Terrorism, armed struggle Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A smart history."---Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times"A very useful primer on an astonishingly complex history." * Foreign Affairs *"Syrian Requiem: The Civil War and Its Aftermath makes a bold claim in its very title. It rests on the idea that something fundamentally Syrian has slid into memory, never to return."---Lazar Berman, Times of Israel"Of all the books I’ve read about the ongoing civil war in Syria, Syrian Requiem: The Civil War and Its Aftermath is the best of the lot. . . . . It is concise yet comprehensive, scholarly yet accessible."---Sheldon Kirshner, Times of Israel"Syrian Requiem is an original and valuable addition to the literature on the Syrian civil war, and is likely to become one of the early standard texts on this subject, specifically with regard to its cogent examination of the diplomatic, strategic, and high policy elements of the war’s trajectory."---Jonathan Spyer, Tel Aviv Review of Books ​​​​​​​"A valuable book for students of geopolitics and the ever turbulent Middle East." * Kirkus Reviews *"Important and impressive. . . . [Syrian Requiem] is an indispensable book for anyone wishing to understand one of the most tragic civil wars in the Middle East." * Survival *"Packed with information, this slick book manages to offer a comprehensive look at the causes and immediate consequences of the civil war, and the way in which peaceful protests staged as part of the Arab Spring rapidly escalated into a civil war with important and far-reaching international ramifications. An engaging reading, Rabinovich and Valensi’s argument will be of interest to academic and non-academic audiences as well as to undergraduate students and faculty alike."---Lavinia Stan, European Legacy

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Book Synopsis#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Following Chris Wallace’s “riveting” (The New York Times) and “propulsive” (Time) first book Countdown 1945 comes a deeply reported, revelatory, and thrillingly told account of the final months of the hunt for Osama bin Laden.On August 27, 2010, three CIA officers ask for a private meeting with CIA Director Leon Panetta. During that secret session, they tell Panetta that agents have tracked a courier with deep Al Qaeda ties to a three-story house at the end of a dead-end street in Abbottabad, Pakistan. But they say it’s more than a house—it’s a heavily protected fortress. No one in the meeting says the name bin Laden. They don’t have to. Everyone understands that finally, after nearly a decade, maybe, just maybe, they’ve found the world’s most wanted man. In Countdown bin Laden, celebrated journalist and CNN anchor and Max host Chris Wallace delivers a vivid account of the final eight months of intelligence gathering, national security strategizing, and meticulous military planning that leads to the climactic mission when SEAL Team Six closes in on its target. The book delivers new information collected from Wallace’s in-depth interviews with more than a dozen central figures, including Admiral William H. McRaven—leader of the operation in Pakistan—as well as CIA Director Panetta, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, and the SEAL Team Six special operator who kills Osama bin Laden. Wallace also brings to life the human elements of this story, talking to families who lost loved ones on 9/11, sharing what relatives of SEAL Team Six went through, and bringing us inside the tense Situation Room during the raid. Countdown bin Laden is a historical thriller filled with intrigue, cinematic action, and fresh reporting about the race to apprehend and bring to justice the mastermind of the most consequential terrorist attack in American history.

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Book SynopsisAnyone who experienced the attacks on September 11 cannot forget the imagery: the smoking, falling towers, the Pentagon smoldering, the Shanksville crash site, the first responders.But there is an invisible story hidden in the wreckage, one that required years of patient investigation and the piecing together of a sequence from many scattered sources. By establishing the most definitive timeline of how that day unfolded, William M. Arkin shows how the US government failed in the face of the unprecedented attack. It is a story of laughable airport security, vulnerable airspace, blind intelligence, poor communications, muddled orders, Pentagon chaos, and presidential isolation. Everything about the emergency procedures of the governments-from White House security to continuity of government to military alerts-went wrong.On That Day is a stunning, nightmare journey through a government reeling in confusion while many civilians performed individual acts of heroism. It is a chilling exposé of government negligence and overreach, and a constitution in crisis.

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Book SynopsisBoaz Ganor provides an authoritative analysis of Israel’s approach to counterterrorism throughout its existence. The book features revelatory personal testimony from senior Israeli decision makers who have played pivotal roles in counterterrorism strategy.Trade ReviewIsrael's Counterterrorism Policy is an important contribution to counterterrorism and security literature. Through unparalleled access to decision makers, prime ministers, ministers of defense, and heads of security and intelligence services, Boaz Ganor provides a comprehensive overview of Israel’s counterterrorism policy over the years and analyzes the key dilemmas and challenges. A must-read for leaders, security practitioners, students, and journalists alike. -- Shabtai Shavit, former head of Mossad, 1989–1996In Israel's Counterterrorism Strategy, Boaz Ganor provides a unique viewpoint on Israel’s most critical counterterrorism challenges. Through interviews with the people in charge of devising and implementing Israel’s counterterrorism policy, he presents a remarkable account of the threats that Israel has faced since its independence and how its decision makers have responded. -- Yaakov Perry, former director of the Israeli Security Agency; former minister and member of ParliamentThis book is a tour de force. Boaz Ganor expertly traces the history of Israel’s efforts to protect itself against successive waves of terrorism while seeking to uphold its liberal democratic values. -- Ambassador Nathan Sales, former U.S. undersecretary of state (acting) and coordinator for counterterrorismIn Israel’s Counterterrorism Policy, the scholar-practitioner Boaz Ganor provides a balanced, considered, and meticulous master course on the history of Israeli counterterrorism and the lessons learned. He offers a much-needed strategic perspective on a tactical challenge, making a strong contribution to counterterrorism studies. -- Matthew Levitt, author of Hezbollah: The Global Footprint of Lebanon’s Party of GodIsrael’s Counterterrorism Strategy, by the preeminent authority Boaz Ganor, will be viewed as the definitive history of the country’s long and varied experience with a mode of conflict that became the challenge of our age. The revelations of its leaders are fascinating. To understand the policy and ethical complexities of counterterrorism, start here. -- Brian Michael Jenkins, author of Paths to Destruction: A Group Portrait of America’s Jihadists―Comparing Jihadist Travelers with Domestic PlottersGanor’s book will likely become a worthwhile component of the syllabi of courses related to the Arab–Israeli conflict and the peace process. * Israel Journal of Foreign Affairs *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsChronology: Prime Ministers of Israel and Timeline of Major Events, 1948–2018Introduction1. The Israeli Counterterrorism Strategy and Decision-Making Process Conceptual Models2. The “Fedayeen Phenomenon”: The David Ben-Gurion and Moshe Sharett Administrations, 1948–633. Palestinian National Terrorism After the Six-Day War: The Levi Eshkol and Golda Meir Administrations, 1963–734. Cross-Border Terrorism After the Yom Kippur War: The Yitzhak Rabin Administration, 1974–765. Terrorism Against the Backdrop of the Lebanon War: The Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir, and Shimon Peres Administrations, 1977–866. The First Intifada and Activities of the Palestinian Islamist Organizations: The Yitzhak Shamir Administration, 1987–917. Countering Terrorism During the Peace Process: The Yitzhak Rabin Administration, 1992–968. A Prime Minister’s Assassination and Shifting Counterterrorism Strategies: The Benjamin Netanyahu Administration, 1996–999. Confronting the al-Aqsa Intifada: The Ehud Barak and Ariel Sharon Administrations, 1999–200410. Disengagement from Gaza and Its Ramifications: The End of the Sharon Administration and the Ehud Olmert Administration, 2005–200811. Changes in the Greater Middle East: The Netanyahu Administration, 2009–201812. Israel's Counterterrorism Policy from the Perspective of Israeli Decision MakersConclusion: The Art of Israeli CounterterrorismAppendix: List of Interviewees and Selected NewspapersNotesSelected BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Foreign Affairs' Picks for Best of Books 2018"

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Book SynopsisA gripping true crime account of radicalisation in Britain - and how it can be prevented. Longlisted for the ACLS Gold Dagger Award.'An incredible story, powerfully and beautifully told.' - James O'BrienFive teenage friends leave Brighton to wage jihad in Syria. All except one are killed. This is their untold story.No Return is a unique insight into a hidden Britain, based on true events that so shocked intelligence experts they are now the Home Office's lead case study into youth radicalisation.Drawing on a cache of leaked classified documents and unprecedented access to all the main players, award-winning investigative journalist Mark Townsend reveals the shocking truth behind what drew these young Britons to martyrdom in a foreign land. The end result is a fast-paced and powerfully gripping true crime account of radicalisation - and how it can be prevented.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Well-researched, pointedly argued. . . . A sharp book about how America uses the threat of terrorism as an excuse to indulge its own worst impulses."
 * Kirkus Reviews *Table of ContentsOverview An Introduction without a Beginning 1. Mourning in America 2. Privacy and Security 3. Liberal Torture 4. Extrajudicial Assassination by Drone A Conclusion without an Ending Acknowledgments Notes Glossary Key Figures Selected Bibliography

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Book SynopsisTwo veteran journalists tell the inside story of convicted hate-monger Abu Hamza, his infamous Finsbury Park Mosque and how it turned out a generation of militants willing to die – and kill – for their cause…

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Book SynopsisThe first major book on ISIS to be published since the group exploded on the international stage in summer 2014.Drawing on their unusual access to intelligence sources and material, law enforcement, and groundbreaking research into open source intelligence, Stern and Berger outline the origins of ISIS as the formidable terrorist group it has quickly become.State of Terror' delves into the ghoulish pornography' of pro-jihadi videos, the seductive appeal of jihadi chic' and the startling effectiveness of the Islamic State's use of social media as a means of luring and recruiting citizens from countries such as the United States, Great Britain, and Franceusing recent examples such as Douglas McCain, the American citizen from Minnesota who joined ISIS and died in combat fighting on the side of the Islamic State.Although the picture Stern and Berger paint is bleak, State of Terror' also offers well-informed thoughts on potential government responses to ISIS most importantly, emphasizing thTrade Review‘A valuable, rigorous and perceptive guide … Stern and Berger draw on internet-based sources, big-brained research on political violence and some of the most acute thinking about the insurgency that is around today’ Literary Review ‘One of this year’s most useful books on the phenomenon, which showed how the terrorist movement emerged from the mind of a Jordanian criminal, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi’, Daily Telegraph, Books of the Year ‘Clear and succinct … The book’s achievement is to demonstrate how Isis fits within the spectrum of blood-soaked jihadists’ Daily Telegraph ‘By far the most important contribution yet to our understanding of an organization that remains cloaked in mystery and misunderstanding. Stern and Berger are two of the world’s leading experts on violent extremism and, in this book, they have combined their years of knowledge and expertise into a brisk, readable, and eye opening account of ISIS’s past, present, and future’ Reza Aslan, author of ‘No god but God’ and ‘Zealot’ ‘One can only conclude, with the clarity of recent hindsight, that we should have seen it coming – at least when seen through the lens of ‘ISIS’ … a timely and important history of a movement that now defines the 21st century’ Evening Standard ‘The first serious book to analyse the rise of ISIS, arguably one of history's most successful terrorist groups. Stern and Berger write clearly and persuasively and marshal impressive primary research from ISIS's prodigious propaganda to help explain how ISIS became the dominant jihadi group today. It's a terrific and important read’ Peter Bergen, author of ‘Manhunt’ ‘From two of the world’s leading terrorism experts, this timely and urgent book is absolutely essential reading for analysts and policy makers alike. In what is already a cornerstone contribution, Stern and Berger offer the kind of cold-blooded analysis so desperately needed on the poorly understood phenomenon’ John Horgan, author of ‘The Psychology of Terrorism’

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Book SynopsisAn exquisite and inspiring memoir about one mother's unimaginable choice in the face of oppression and abuse in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.How far would you go to protect yourself? Your dignity? Your family?In the days before Homeira Qaderi gave birth to her son, Siawash, the road to the hospital in Kabul would often be barricaded because of the frequent suicide explosions.With the city and the military on edge,it was not uncommon foran armed soldiertopoint his gun at the pregnant woman's bulging stomach, terrified that she was hiding a bomb. Propelled by the love she held for her soon-to-be-born child, Homeira walked through blood and wreckage to reach the hospital doors. But the joy of her beautiful son's birth was soon overshadowed by other dangers that would threaten her life.No ordinary Afghan woman, Homeira refused to cower under the strictures of a misogynistic social order. Defying the law, at the age of thirteen, she risked her freedom to teach children reading and writingTrade Review‘Page-turning account of the lives of Afghan women … at the heart of this moving memoir is an aching sadness’ Observer ‘How does a girl grow to be a woman in a society that shuts off every opportunity? How does a mother choose between her child and the future, not just her future but that of the women of Afghanistan? Homeira Qaderi answers these impossible questions in her stunning memoir, Dancing in the Mosque – one of the most moving love letters to life itself that you will ever read.’ Meg Waite Clayton, author of The Last Train to London ‘Powerful … an unvarnished, memorable portrayal of a mother’s grief and love’ Kirkus ‘A remarkable story of great strength, perseverance, and personal sacrifice by a woman selflessly working to advance the rights of women in her homeland of Afghanistan, women and girls who yearn to be free … I wept when I read the words, " in this land, it is better to be a stone than a girl." Thank you, Homeira, for telling a story that everyone needs to read.’ Deborah Rodriguez, author of The Kabul Beauty School and The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul

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Book Synopsis''A superb book' ObserverGripping, vivid and compelling' The CriticHumane, absorbing and meticulous' New StatesmanThree Weeks in July is the extraordinary and definitive account of the events of the 7/7 London bombings, publishing on the 20th anniversary of the event.Three Weeks in July delivers the definitive narrative of the 7 July 2005 London bombings and the chaos, confusion and terror that followed.A true-crime investigation interwoven with high-stakes politics and history, it reveals untold accounts of the response to 7/7 by the government and the Metropolitan Police, as well as their efforts to prevent a second wave of attacks. Drawing on insights from key figures like Tony Blair, Peter Clarke (head of the Anti-Terrorist Branch at the Metropolitan Police) and Sir Ian Blair (Metropolitan Police commissioner), as well as victims and first responders, the book chronicles the frenzy of the first hours after the attack and the pivotal three weeks of police work, forensics and political machinations whose repercussions are still being felt to this day.Three Weeks in July is the definitive account of one of the most tumultuous periods in modern British history, and a visceral and propulsive narrative that examines the vulnerabilities of the state and the ethical dilemmas of national security.

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Book SynopsisFew understand the devastation cyber weapons can wreak or how the United States will use them in a crisis. This title explains how cyber weapons work and how vulnerable America is to the world of nearly untraceable cyber criminals and spies. It reveals how successful foreign cyber espionage has penetrated the Pentagon, and the defense industry.Trade Review"Chilling... [A] harrowing - and persuasive - picture of the cyberthreat the United States faces today." -- Michiko Kakutani, New York Times "Clarke and Knake are right to sound the alarm." -- Wall Street Journal "[CYBER WAR] may be the most important book about national-security policy in the last several years." -- Slate "In this chilling and eye-opening book, Clarke and Knake provide a highly detailed yet accessible look at how cyber warfare is being waged and the need to rethink our national security to face this new threat." -- Booklist "Will strengthen Clarke's claims as one of the founding fathers of cybersecurocracy...It is worth buying this book if only for his pithy five-page vision of this coming apocalypse and a return to stone-age conditions within a week, all because of a few pesky hackers and viruses." -- Financial Times

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Book Synopsis“Better and more comprehensive than any prior account. . . . Those of us who lived through those days will find the book cathartic; those rising generations who were too young to remember 9/11, or who weren’t yet born, will find it revelatory.” — John Farmer, senior counsel to the 9/11 Commission and author of The Ground Truth“With his rigorous research and moral clarity, Mitchell Zuckoff has provided us with an invaluable service. He has deepened our understanding of what happened on 9/11 and recorded the voices of the victims and the survivors. What’s more, he has ensured that we never forget.” —David Grann, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Killers of the Flower MoonYears in the making, this spellbinding, heartbreaking, and ultimately uplifting narrative is an unforgettable portrait of 9/11.This is a 9/11 book

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[A] heart-felt, moving ... examination of a greatly changed Middle East and the groups that benefited from their hostage taking and other terrorist activities, but are far from atoning for them." -- Rod Nordland, international correspondent at large, The New York Times and author of The Lovers "Deeply personal and brutally frank ... powerfully demonstrates that suffering need not destroy." -- Terry Waite CBE, President of Hostage UK and author of Taken on Trust "A gutsy coming-of-age memoir, beautifully written, and always provocative. From wounded adolescence to fearless investigative reporter, Sulome Anderson confronts her father's kidnappers-and along the way, she shines a harsh light on the murky world of intelligence in a distraught Middle East. A poignant and astonishing mystery story." -- Kai Bird, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author of The Good Spy: The Life and Death of Robert Ames A remarkable personal story as well as penetrating insight into the adamantine world of the Middle East, where truth and politics are irreconcilable. -- Brian Keenan, former hostage and author of An Evil Cradling "An excellent piece of reportage from someone who clearly has an intimate understanding of the Middle East, interwoven with an equally gripping and emotional account of one woman's quest for reason and forgiveness. This is the story that few journalists have the bravery to write about others, let alone themselves." -- Reza Azlan, author of Zealot [Sulome's] brutally candid, fiercely intelligent, and beautifully crafted memoir is both a fascinating introduction to the shadow world of Middle East intrigue and an inspiring story of resilience and recovery." -- Stephen M. Walt, coauthor of The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy "There are times when you want to look away. This book is that personal. By telling the story of the author-and her famous family-it also traces the story of terrorism in the modern era, in gripping and intimate ways." -- Brian Williams, MSNBC "A perilous and riveting spiral into Middle Eastern politics, exploring the dawn of the terrorist era in Beirut ... Anderson creates a compelling depiction of the collateral damage of terrorism and a remarkable piece of investigative journalism with a surprise twist." -- Publishers Weekly "Anderson is at her best when she teases apart the narrative's many threads, which number not just Hezbollah, but also the broader community of Shiite Islam, to say nothing of Israeli intelligence, the CIA, Iran, and other actors in set pieces such as the Beirut embassy bombing." -- Kirkus

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Book SynopsisDiscover this lyrical, sweeping and powerful book on the Bhutto family, an extraordinary, Kennedy-esque dynasty that is central to the story of modern Pakistan.In September 1996, a fourteen-year-old Fatima Bhutto hid in a windowless dressing room, shielding her baby brother while shots rang out in the streets outside the family home in Karachi. This was the evening that her father Murtaza was murdered, along with six of his associates. In December 2007, Benazir Bhutto, Fatima''s aunt, and the woman she had publically accused of ordering her father''s murder, was assassinated in Rawalpindi. It was the latest in a long line of tragedies for one of the world''s best known political dynasties. Songs of Blood and Sword tells the story of a family of rich feudal landlords - the proud descendents of a warrior caste - who became powerbrokers in the newly created state of Pakistan. The history of this extraordinary family mirrors the tumultuous events of PakistaTrade ReviewPowerful * Telegraph magazine *Fascinating -- Eithne Farry * Marie Claire *She is a compassionate and brave campaigner who ought to be heard -- Sebastian Shakespeare * Tatler *The purpose of this painful biography is admirable and touching -- Brenda Maddox * The Times *A story with dazzling twists and turns told by a true-blue member of the Bhutto fold, with its family history of idealism, political betrayal, murder, hubris and paranaoia -- Arifa Akbar * Independent *

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Book SynopsisWinner of the 2005 Pulitzer PrizeThe explosive, New York Times bestselling first-hand account of America''s secret history in AfghanistanPrize-winning journalist Steve Coll has spent years reporting from the Middle East, accessed previously classified government files and interviewed senior US officials and foreign spymasters. Here he gives the full inside story of the CIA''s covert funding of an Islamic jihad against Soviet forces in Afghanistan, explores how this sowed the seeds of bn Laden''s rise, traces how he built his global network and brings to life the dramatic battles within the US government over national security. Above all, he lays bare American intelligence''s continual failure to grasp the rising threat of terrrorism in the years leading to 9/11 - and its devastating consequences.''Riveting ... the finest historical narrative so far on the origins of al Qaeda in the post-Soviet rubble of Afghanistan ... provides fresh details

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Book SynopsisEd Moloney has been Northern Ireland Editor of both the Irish Times and the Sunday Tribune. He has written for a wide range of newspapers and magazines in Ireland, the UK and the USA. In 1999 he was Irish Journalist of the Year. He currently lives in New York.

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Book Synopsis20 November 1979: as morning prayers began, hundreds of hardline Islamist gunmen, armed with rifles smuggled in coffins, stormed the Grand Mosque in Mecca. With thousands of terrified worshippers trapped inside, the result was a bloody siege that lasted two weeks, caused hundreds of deaths, prompted an international diplomatic crisis and unleashed forces that would eventually lead to the rise of al Qaeda.Journalist Yaroslav Trofimov takes us day-by-day through one of the most momentous and heavily censored events in recent history, interviewing many direct participants in the siege and drawing on secret documents to reveal the truth about the first operation of modern global jihad.Trade ReviewRiveting * Sunday Times *A thriller-like account of an event largely hushed up * The Times *A gripping, highly informed narrative * Financial Times *The first detailed account of the event … brilliantly researched and eye-opening … this is undoubtedly a book of international significance * Herald *A gripping and revealing account of this brutal uprising … The Siege of Mecca is a marvel of investigative journalism … Trofimov's viciously gory account unfolds with a sharp eye for detail and accuracy -- Ziauddin Sardar * New Statesman *Trofimov tells this tale with considerable verve and authority. He has interviewed many of the surviving witnesses and participants in a country suffused with fear and paranoia, and sets the siege within a wider historical context -- Michael Burleigh * Literary Review *A thriller-like account of an event largely hushed up * The Times *

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Book Synopsis''Gripping ... revelatory ... unrivalled'' Tom Holland, New Statesman''From Mosul to Melbourne, from Cairo to Tokyo, from London to Oslo, from Connecticut to California: Graeme Wood''s quest to understand the Islamic State is a round-the-world journey to the end of the night'' Niall Ferguson ''A hugely important book ... Indispensable'' David Aaronovitch, The TimesA radical rethinking of what ISIS is and what it really wantsFrom Graeme Wood, author of the explosive Atlantic cover story What ISIS Really Wants, comes the definitive book on the history, psychology, character, and aims of the Islamic State. Based on Wood''s unprecedented access to supporters, recruiters, and high-ranking members of the most infamous jihadist group in the world, The Way of the Strangers is a riveting, fast-paced deep dive into the apocalyptic dogma that informs the group''s worldview, from the ideas that motivate it, to the fatwa factory Trade ReviewGripping, sobering and revelatory ... Unrivalled -- Tom Holland * New Statesman *[A] hugely important book ... Indispensable -- David Aaronovitch * The Times *Fascinating ... Highly readable ... The western military with its superior firepower can bomb Isis out of existence in Raqqa and Mosul as much as it likes, but we won't destroy the ideology if we don't understand what it is. This book goes a long way towards filling that gap -- Christina Lamb * Sunday Times *Indispensable and gripping .... Wood's quest to understand the Islamic State is a round-the-world journey to the end of the night. As individuals, the men he encounters are misfits, even losers. But their millenarian Islamist ideology makes them the most dangerous people on the planet. -- Niall Ferguson

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Book Synopsis''One of our best-known living philosophers'' GuardianHow do we respond to the refugee crisis - by opening our doors, or pulling up the drawbridge? Both solutions, argues Slavoj Žižek, offer ideological blackmail, and both are wrong. He proposes that instead we see the crisis as an opportunity: a unique chance for Europe to redefine itself and its future. ''Žižek identifies the refugee crisis as one of the major global challenges of our time ... he argues for a politics of solidarity'' The Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisTerrorism and radicalization came to the forefront of news and politics in the US after the unforgettable attacks of September 11th, 2001. When George W. Bush famously asked Why do they hate us?, the President echoed the confusion, anger and fear felt by millions of Americans, while also creating a politicized discourse that has come to characterize and obscure discussions of both phenomenon in the media.Since then the American public has lived through a number of domestic attacks and threats, and watched international terrorist attacks from afar on television sets and computer screens. The anxiety and misinformation surrounding terrorism and radicalization are perhaps best detected in questions that have continued to recur in the last decade: Are terrorists crazy?; Is there a profile of individuals likely to become terrorists?; Is it possible to prevent radicalization to terrorism? Fortunately, in the two decades since 9/11, a significant body of research has emerged that can help provide definitive answers. As experts in the psychology of radicalization, Sophia Moskalenko and Clark McCauley propose twelve mechanisms that can move individuals, groups, and mass publics from political indifference to sympathy and support for terrorist violence. Radicalization to Terrorism: What Everyone Needs to Know synthesizes original and existing research to answer the questions raised after each new attack, including those committed by radicalized Americans. It offers a rigorously informed overview of the insight that will enable readers to see beyond the relentless new cycle to understand where terrorism comes from and how best to respond to it.Table of ContentsChapter 1. What is terrorism and who becomes a terrorist? Chapter 2. What is radicalization? Chapter 3. How are individuals radicalized to join a terrorist group? Chapter 4. How are small groups radicalized to use terrorism as a tactic? Chapter 5. How are mass publics radicalized to support terrorism? Chapter 6. What is the relation between radical ideas and radical action? Chapter 7. What's different about lone-wolf terrorists? Chapter 8. Are suicide bombers suicidal? Chapter 9. Is it possible to prevent radicalization to terrorism? Chapter 10. Is it possible to de-radicalize terrorists? Chapter 11. What are Mass Identity Manipulations (MIMs)--pictures, songs/chants, rumors, rituals and symbols? Chapter 12. Mass radicalization in the United States Chapter 13. Conclusions: What Everyone Needs to Know about Radicalization and Extremism

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Book SynopsisThe devastating September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon left us stunned, angry, and uncomprehending. As it became clear that these horrifying acts had been committed in the name of Islam, we struggled to understand how religion could be used to justify the slaughter of innocents. The media, the government, and ordinary citizens alike sought answers to questions about Islam and its adherents. Who are the Muslim extremists who perpetrate such deeds? Why do they hate us? What do they hope to achieve? Does Islam really teach that such terrorists are holy warriors who will be rewarded with everlasting bliss? In this level-headed and authoritative book, John L. Esposito, one of the world''s most respected scholars of political Islam, provides answers to these and many other questions that have arisen in the wake of the attacks. He clearly and carefully explains the teachings of Islam--the Quran, the example of the Prophet, Islamic law--about jihad or holy war, the useTrade ReviewThis is a masterly and indispensable guide ... it should be required reading * The Independent *

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Book SynopsisIn 680 C.E., a small band of the Prophet Muhammads family and their followers, led by his grandson, Husain, rose up in a rebellion against the ruling caliph, Yazid. The family and its supporters, hopelessly outnumbered, were massacred at Karbala, in modern-day Iraq. The story of Karbala is the cornerstone of institutionalized devotion and mourning for millions of Shii Muslims. Apart from its appeal to the Shii community, invocations of Karbala have also come to govern mystical and reformist discourses in the larger Muslim world. Indeed, Karbala even serves as the archetypal resistance and devotional symbol for many non-Muslims. Until now, though, little scholarly attention has been given to the widespread and varied employment of the Karbala event. In Reliving Karbala, Syed Akbar Hyder examines the myriad ways that the Karbala symbol has provided inspiration in South Asia, home to the worlds largest Muslim population. Rather than a unified reading of Islam, Hyder reveals multiple, Trade ReviewReliving Karbala is a significant contribution to the existing scholarship on Karbala. Hyder adds vitality and depth to his analysis through a range of personal anecdotes, including memories of his own experience of growing up between cultures. This book is an invaluable resource from whcih students of various disciplines will benefit. * American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences *Table of ContentsNOTES ON TRANSCRIPTION; NOTES; GLOSSARY; BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Book SynopsisSpreading Hate examines the evolution of the white power movement around the world, explaining its appeal and the threat it poses as well as many failures.The modern white power movement is now a global, transnational phenomenon. In this sweeping, authoritative account, Daniel Byman traces the key moments in the white power movement''s evolution in the United States and around the world and then details its many facets today. Using a wide range of sources, Byman explodes several myths about white power terrorism and exposes dangerous gaps in current policies.For almost two decades since 9/11, white supremacist terrorism has been relegated to a secondary concern in the US and Europe despite the fact that it was clearly metastasizing. This neglect has led to shocking episodes of violence from New Zealand to Norway to South Carolina and has eroded faith in Western democratic institutions. Because white power terrorists'' grievances echo mainstream debates and their violence often exacerbaTrade ReviewIn eight chapters, Byman weaves together events and networks in the United States, Europe and New Zealand to paint a sweeping narrative of white supremacy. This attention to transnational linkages is welcome in a literature that tends to focus on case-studies of single countries or organizations. * Anna Meier, University of Nottingham, UK, International Affairs *Daniel Byman is among the preeminent scholars of terrorism and counterterrorism of our time—and in this book, he turns his lens on white supremacists, offering a detailed and sophisticated look at their history, ideas, tactics, use of social media, and international dimensions. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to learn more about the greatest current terrorism threat facing the United States and the best ways to combat the danger. * Benjamin Wittes, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies, Brookings and Editor-in-chief of lawfare *Daniel Byman's Spreading Hate takes a deep dive into transnational white supremacy, what is driving it, and how it differs from other terrorist movements. Even better, Byman gives us a counterterrorism road map for addressing this threat, which has too long been ignored. A must-read for anyone concerned about metastasizing white supremacy and what can be done to stop it * Heidi Beirich, Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism and former Director of the Intelligence Project of the Southern Poverty Law Center *Daniel Byman brings unparalleled counterterrorism insight and expertise to this superb new treatment of modern white power terrorism. Spreading Hate identifies specific factors that have contributed to the recent surge of white supremacist terrorism, at home and abroad. For both the general reader and the scholar practitioner, you will not find a more measured and more thoughtful treatment of this complex set of issues. Read it for the analysis of how we got to this terrible place, but take special note in the latter chapters where Byman tells us what can be done to respond to these disturbing trends. * Nicholas Rasmussen, , Executive Director of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) and former Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) *Table of ContentsTC

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsChapter 1: The Challenge to State-Based Global Media Systems Chapter 2: Proto-State Media Systems: A History of Al-Qaeda and ISIS Chapter 3: Transhistorical Militancy, Community-building, and Proto-state Media Systems Chapter 4: Transpatial Identity, Community-building, and Proto-State Media Systems Chapter 5: Material Presence, Attention, and Proto-State Media Systems Chapter 6: Audience Resiliency Strategies of Proto-state Media Systems Chapter 7: An Analytical Approach for Understanding Proto-state Media Systems

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Book SynopsisExamining both brigandage and irredentism in Greece since the War of Independence, this work traces the links between the two, their impact on Greek politics and statecraft, and their influence on the modern Greek state. It aims to separate reality from myth in examining the forces and factors involved in turning brigands into national heroes.Trade Review'outstanding study ... Koliopoulos traces in meticulous detail the ebb and flow between internal brigandage and external irredentism ... In terms of originality, the use of a wide array of little known sources, and the clarity of his argument, John Koliopoulos has shown he has no superior among historians of modern Greece.' Times Higher Education Supplement

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Book SynopsisConceptualizing Terrorism argues that, in the post 9/11 world, the need for an internationally agreed definition of terrorism is more important than it has ever been, despite the challenges that such an endeavour presents. Indeed, in a global context, where the term is often applied selectively and pejoratively according to where one''s interests lie, there is a real need to instill some analytical quality into the concept of terrorism, not least in order to prevent the term being manipulated to justify all manner of counter-terrorism responses. Not only is this important for the policymaking context but it is also an imperative task within academia - in order to strengthen the theoretical foundation of terrorism studies, for all other terrorism related theories rest on what one means by terrorism in the first place. Written from an academic perspective, the book explores the prospects for terrorism as an analytical concept. Arguing that the essence of this particular form of politicalTrade ReviewIn a world in which terrorist events have become a daily norm, Anthony Richards offers a succinct and objective approach to the definition of terrorism. His purpose-based conception is a real step closer to and should become a central part of a long overdue and universally agreed definition. * Lord Carlile of Berriew, former Independent Reviewer of UK Terrorism Legislation. *An impressively serious-minded and compelling study of an enduringly vital issue. An important book, and one which deserves to be widely read. * Richard English, University of St Andrews *Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. The Importance of an Agreed Definition of Terrorism ; 3. The Evolution of the Definitional Debate - The Policymaking Perspective ; 4. The Meaning of Terrorism - An Academic Perspective ; 5. Three Preliminary Assumptions When Approaching the Conceptualisation of Terrorism ; 6. Implications of the Assumption that Non-Civilians and Combatants Can Also Be Victims of Terrorism ; 7. What Terrorism Is Not ; 8. Drawing a Distinction Between Political 'Terror' and 'Terrorism' ; 9. Further Potential Components of a Definition of Terrorism ; 10. Conclusion

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Book Synopsis- When do individuals radicalise? - Can terrorism be rational? - How can we define terrorism? - What is the role of women in terrorism? - Can states be terrorist? World leading experts answer these questions in Contemporary Terrorism Studies, the first textbook to provide a multi-disciplinary, methodologically plural, and richly diverse introduction to terrorism studies. Contemporary Terrorism Studies covers the main approaches in terrorism studies, and is structured into three comprehensive sections. The first on ''The State of Terrorism Studies'' maps the development and historical context of the discipline, and looks to the future of terrorism studies. Part two on ''Issues and Debates in Terrorism Studies'' examines key contentious questions and debates such as the role of women, technology, and the media in terrorism. The final part, part three on ''Countering Terrorism'' focuses specifically on counterterrorism: it''s instruments, foreign policy, legal frameworks, and organisationTrade ReviewAn unusually comprehensive and authoritative book which creatively draws together new and established scholars to explore the many and growing approaches to this most important of subjects. This volume will prove invaluable to those teaching courses on terrorism and will stimulate lively discussion among scholars. * Professor Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor, University of Oxford, UK *A powerful, authoritative, compelling volume on one of the world's major fields of research and analysis. A wide-ranging, rigorous and important book. * Professor Richard English, Queen's University Belfast, author of Does Terrorism Work? A History *An ambitious textbook that provides a comprehensive and well-organized introduction to terrorism studies, containing contributions from a large number of leading scholars in the field. Contemporary Terrorism Studies covers an impressive range of topics and pays close attention to the key issues that drive our understanding of terrorism. * Martha Crenshaw, Senior Fellow Emerita, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University, and Professor Emerita, Wesleyan University, USA *Given the vast expansion of terrorism studies, the need for an authoritative exegesis and assessment of the many new approaches, methodologies, and perspectives involving this highly contentious subject has become acute. Contemporary Terrorism Studies is thus a very timely, welcome, and immensely important contribution to the literature. Its editors, Diego Muro and Tim Wilson, have masterfully assembled a stellar cast of contributors to explore and examine contemporary research on terrorism in all its variegated dimensions. This book will become an essential reference work for scholars and students alike. * Professor Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University, and author, Inside Terrorism *A wide-ranging and comprehensive work that covers the key issues of debate in terrorism studies, in an accessible and engaging form. * Eamonn O'Kane, Reader in Conflict Studies, School of Social, Historical and Political Studies, University of Wolverhampton *A thoughtful, well-designed book that equips students with both the conceptual depth and empirical evidence they need to develop into discerning scholars. The ability of the various authors to synthesise such complex debates is welcome for teachers and students alike. * Shaun McDaid, Senior Lecturer in Politics, Department of Behaviour and Social Sciences, University of Huddersfield *Table of Contents1. Tim Wilson and Diego Muro: IntroductionPART ONE: THE STATE OF TERRORISM STUDIES2. What are terrorism studies? Tim Wilson 3. Harmonie Toros: Critical Terrorism Studies 4. Anthony Richards: Conceptualisations of Terrorism 5. Adrian Guelke: Terrorism in Context 6. Stefan Malthaner, Donatella della Porta, and Lorenzo Bosi: The Social Science of Political Violence 7. Gary LaFree: Open Sources DatabasesPART TWO: ISSUES AND DEBATES IN TERRORISM STUDIES8. Bernhard Blumenau and Tim Wilson: The History of Terrorism 9. What are the Root Causes of terrorism? Nick Brooke 10. When Do Individuals Radicalise? Rik Coolsaet 11. Can Terrorism be Rational? Max Abrahms 12. Alex Braithwaite and Ian Orringer: Target Selection 13. Leena Malkki: Longevity of Terrorist Groups 14. Can States be Terrorists? Kieran McConaghy 15. Caron Gentry: Gendered and Racialised Terrorism 16. Peter Lehr: Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism, and Technology 17. Peter Neumann: Old and New Terrorism 18. Donald Holbrook: Social Media and Terrorism 19. Is Terrorism Effective? Diego MuroPART THREE: COUNTERING TERRORISM20. Martin Innes and Helen Innes: Counterterrorism Agencies and Their Work 21. Sondre Lindahl and Richard Jackson: Responding to Terrorism Non-violently 22. Frank Foley: Counterterrorism and Human Rights 23. Rashmi Singh: Foreign Policy and Countering Terrorism 24. Christian Kaunert and Ori Wertman: International Organisations and Counterterrorism 25. Jakana Thomas: Terrorism by Insurgents and Rebels 26. Daniel Koehler: Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism 27. Sarah Marsden: Disengagement and De-Radicalisation Programmes 28. Orla Lynch and Carmel Joyce: Victims of Terrorism and Political Violence 29. Audrey Kurth Cronin: The End of Terrorist Campaigns

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Book Synopsis

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Trade ReviewA solidly resourced, cogently analyzed, and persuasively argued brief. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Perilous Times ; 2. The Nuclear-Haunted Era ; 3. What to Mobilize Against ; 4. Waging War on Terror ; 5. Weapons of Mass Destruction ; 6. Panics and Pandemics ; 7. Environmental Catastrophe ; 8. Setting a New Agenda ; 9. The Call for Action ; Notes ; Selected Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisExamining the way terrorism challenges traditional norms, this title discusses the morality of various practices of torture, and explores the infamous ticking time-bomb scenario. It addresses criticisms of torture, analyzing the impact its adoption could have on democracy, institutional structures, and foreign policy.Trade Review"Terrorism, Ticking Time-Bombs, and Torture adds much to current discussion of a great many issues. Fritz Allhoff broadens the torture and terrorism debate, deftly analyzes exceptionalism and absolutism, probes the ticking time-bomb scenario to surprising and controversial effect, and offers novel empirical data and a trenchant interpretation of complex legal issues." (Michael L. Gross, University of Haifa)"

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Book SynopsisOn July 31, 1997, a six-man Emergency Service team from the NYPD raided a terrorist cell in Brooklyn - and thus narrowly prevented a devastating suicide bombing of the New York subway. This book tells the dramatic story of that raid, the painstaking police work that went into it, and its unexpected aftermath.Trade Review"This is the most honest, accurate, and heartfelt look beneath the surface of the NYPD that I've ever read. This writer understands cops. The core event, the 1997 raid that prevented a Brooklyn subway bombing, moves with the pace of a thriller, yet Jennifer Hunt perfectly, movingly captures the thoughts and emotions of the cops involved. It's a rare accomplishment to get cops to pour out their hearts like this." - Ed Dee, retired NYPD Lieutenant, author of The Con Man's Daughter"

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Book SynopsisBeginning with a dissection of the instruction manual given to each of the 9/11 hijackers, this book talks about the September 11 and serves as a study on the character of religion. It shows how the terrorists justified acts of destruction and mass murder "in the name of God, the most merciful, the most compassionate."Trade Review"From time to time there appears a work... that serves to focus the wide-ranging, often contentious discussion of religion's significance within broader cultural dynamics. Bruce Lincoln's Holy Terrors is one such text.... Anyone still struggling toward a more nuanced comprehension of 9/11 would do well to spend time with this book." - Theodore Pulcini, Middle East Journal "Modernity has ended twice: in its Marxist form in 1989 Berlin, and in its liberal form on September 11, 2001. In order to understand such major historical changes we need both large-scale and focused analyses - a combination seldom to be found in one volume. But here Bruce Lincoln... has given us just such a mix of discrete and large-picture analysis." - Stephen Healey, Christian Century"

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Book SynopsisConsidering the ways the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have been aestheticized, exploited, and appropriated, this title examines the complex and paradoxical character of American public discourse since then. Calling for a sustained cultural and theoretical analysis, it considers these events with a perspective grounded in the humanities.Trade Review"Simpson's book is a necessary attempt to critically engage what we call '9/11' as a singular moment in the history of memory, as a cultural event. Its major contribution resides in that it forces us to reflect on the monumental imprint of 9/11 and on its dissemination and circulation in public mourning and remembrance, in architecture and memorialization. The book articulates a passionate and ethical call for cultural and theoretical analysis." - Gil Anidjar, Columbia University"

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Book SynopsisDrawing on history, anthropology, and politics, and bringing to bear examples ranging from the murder of Theo van Gogh to the French ban on headscarves, this book argues that the West must overcome its fear of Islam if it is to avoid betraying the values it claims to protect.Trade Review"Fascinating and important.... Now, of all times, there is a need for cool heads, such as Todorov, who approaches the limits of free speech with admirable dexterity." - Ian Buruma, New York Review of Books, on the French edition"

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Book SynopsisOn March 16, 1978, the former prime minister of Italy, Aldo Moro, was kidnapped by the Red Brigades, and what followedthe fifty-five days of captivity that resulted in Moro's murderconstitutes one of the most striking social dramas of the twentieth century. In this compelling study of terrorism, Robin Wagner-Pacifici employs methods from sociology, symbolic anthropology, and literary criticism to decode the many social texts that shaped the event: political speeches, newspaper reports, television and radio news, editorials, photographs, Moro's letters, Red Brigade communiques, and appeals by various international figures. The analysis of these texts calls into question the function of politics, social drama, spectacle, and theater. Wagner-Pacifici provides a dramaturgic analysis of the Moro affair as a method for discussing the culture of politics in Italy.

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Book SynopsisStates that counterterrorism has become pivotal in promoting terrorism. This title contrasts the psychological insight of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" with "The 9/11 Commission Report", plumbs the mindset of terrorists in works by Oriana Fallaci and Jean Genet, and maps the continuities between the cold war and the fight against terrorism.Trade Review"This is a brilliant book - a rich and insightful theoretical analysis. Zulaika presents an in-depth critical and cultural deconstruction of what terrorism means symbolically, how it is used in political discourse, and how it is applied by the U.S. government as a means of manufacturing consent for violent policies of counterterrorism." - Jeffrey Sluka, author of Death Squad"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Ecoliberation makes an important contribution to the literature in a number of ways. First and foremost, studies of social movements routinely ignore anarchism, and Jennifer Grubbs describes tendencies within the anarchist movement and radical milieus in detail. A compelling work.” Deric Shannon, Emory University and editor of The End of the World as We Know It? Crisis, Resistance, and the Age of Austerity

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Book SynopsisMaking a Killing explores the often-overlooked world of terrorist financing and the involvement of the international banking system. Ian Oxnevad seeks to assess how effective new laws and regulations have been, as well as to identify best practices for future attempts to counter the financing of terrorism.Trade Review“Making a Killing is an essential read for scholars, policymakers, and private-sector professionals looking to understand the shadowy business of terrorist financing and its relation to the international banking system. This book offers a clear and concise overview of the evolution of counterterrorist finance laws, policies, and institutions since 9/11, and comprehensively evaluates their successes and failures in preventing terrorists and terrorist groups from moving money through the licit financial system.” Colin P. Clarke, the Soufan Group

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Book SynopsisThis book challenges the belief that democratic institutions and economic growth are effective tools for defeating an insurgency. Jeffrey Treistman reveals that while moderate violence can lead to government overthrow, bad actors that pursue indiscriminate violence and brutal repression can defeat a rebellion. As a result, bad states sometimes win.Trade Review"An interesting and provocative work. Readers interested in the debate over the efficacy of population-centric COIN will find this book worth reading." Choice“Drawing on relevant professional experience, a sound theory built on robust engagement with the literature, and careful quantitative and qualitative analysis, Treistman makes a compelling case for his argument that a repressive counterinsurgent strategy will succeed when it engages in extreme levels of repression or barbarism.” H-War

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Book SynopsisWhile 9/11 was understood at the time as a world-changing event in international relations, the uneven long-term effects for North America could not have been predicted. Twenty years later, The Legacy of 9/11 explores the political, economic, trade and border and security and defence, implications.Trade Review“The Legacy of 9/11 is an ambitious and important undertaking, offering an interesting retrospective of the world both before and after the attacks on September 11th. This volume will no doubt cause readers to reflect on their own understandings of 9/11 and how it has shaped not only world events but also personal histories.” Jeffrey Rice, MacEwan University

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