Terrorism, armed struggle Books

Book SynopsisThis study explores the role of politically active Palestinian women in the Lebanese Resistance Movement. The author describes the types of work involved, the organizations these women have founded, and the changing nature of gender roles set against an intense and sustained crisis.

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Book SynopsisDrawing upon uncovered classified documents and interviews with key players, this text recounts the Lavon affair in Israel in 1963. It tells how the affair, which toppled the government of David Ben-Gurion, the nation's founding father, rocked the corridors of power in Israel.Trade ReviewA magnificently documented account of the Lavon affair, the 1960 political scandal that led to the demise of Prime Minister David Ben Gurion's government three years later, and, says Teveth, the original progressive ideals of Zionism. A.L.A. Booklist

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA succinct but thoroughly researched account of how Israel's security agencies have sought to defeat terrorist organizations from the pre-state Yishuv to events following the 2006 war with Hezbollah. After examining the historical record, Ami Pedahzur concludes that the application of defensive measures has proved more successful in deterring terrorist attacks than 'targeted killings' and other forms of warlike measures. -- Leonard Weinberg, University of Nevada, Reno Ami Pedahzur has written an astute, well-documented, and compelling analysis of Israel's reliance on the 'war model' to combat terrorism. Israel's political and military leaders were consistently unable to resist the temptation of dramatic and costly uses of force when modest defensive or conciliatory measures were preferable. This lesson should not be lost on any national policymaker confronted by terrorism. -- Martha Crenshaw, Stanford University [Pedahzur's] insights are so well reasoned and relevant that the pages almost turn themselves. Publishers Weekly (starred review) [A] superb examination of Israel's secret services. -- Daniel Byman New York Post More than entertaining spy stories... this book will be a great aid to other Western countries around the world struggling to confront terror. Jewish Book World [Pedahzur] offers a brilliant description of Israel's fight against terrorism from 1948 to the present. -- Seth J. Frantzman The Jerusalem Post A fascinating history of counterterrorism by Israeli security agencies... Highly recommended. Choice "The Israeli Secret Services & the Struggles Against Terrorism" is a fine read and solidly recommended. -- James A. Cox Midwest Book Review the book sheds a great deal of light on the activities of counterterrorism organizations that mostly operate in the shadows and on the seemingly haphazard ways counterterrorism policy is formulated in times of crisis. -- Aaron M. Hoffman ShofarTable of ContentsList of Figures Acknowledgments 1. The Emergence of Israel's Counterterrorism Doctrine 2. The Path to the Defensive Model and Back 3. Rescuing Hostages 4. The Lebanese Puzzle 5. New Challenges from the West Bank and Gaza 6. The Global Challenge of Iran and Hezbollah 7. New Rivals, Old Responses 8. A War Against an Elusive Enemy 9. The Second Lebanon War and Beyond 10. Fighting the Terrorism Plague Notes Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisIn American Zealots, Arie Perliger provides a wide-ranging and rigorously researched overview of right-wing domestic terrorism. He analyzes its historical roots, characteristics, tactics, rhetoric, and organization, assessing the current and future trajectory of the use of violence by the far right.Trade ReviewAmerican Zealots is an immensely timely and important publication. Written by one of this country's foremost authorities on far-right extremist violence, it provides a comprehensive analysis of this movement's evolution and trajectory and its implications for American society and politics. -- Bruce Hoffman, author of Inside TerrorismWith unparalleled expertise, Arie Perliger makes sense of the complicated and contentious reality of domestic right-wing terrorism. His explanation of the complexities, deep historical roots, and ideological diversity of the threat is clear and dispassionate. His conclusions are all the more important for being bluntly realistic: there is unlikely to be a decline in right-wing violence unless we devise a wide-ranging public policy response. -- Martha Crenshaw, Stanford UniversityAt a time when both DHS and the FBI have underlined the threat posed from the radical right, Arie Perliger’s American Zealots is a comprehensive and comparative study of right-wing terrorism that sheds light on how the movement emerged, grew within the US military, and our society to become the center of current domestic political debates. Using original data that he collected, the book is anchored in rigorous empirical evidence to explain how we got here and identify the path forward. -- Mia Bloom, author of Small Arms: Children and TerrorismThis arresting book explores the backgrounds of right-wing activists who have terrorized America’s heartland from Oak Creek, Wisconsin to El Paso, Texas in recent decades. Far from being lone wolves, they are supported by a vast community of hatred, this revealing study shows. It descends into America’s underground cultures of violence and helps the reader understand the motivations and organizations of what has become America’s number one terrorist threat. It is essential reading for anyone concerned about the widening chasms of political extremism in the United States. -- Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious ViolencePerliger is impassioned and cleareyed about how troubling the trends are...a plainspoken and data-driven yet essential book for understanding the underpinnings of today’s domestic terrorists. * Kirkus Reviews *This book illuminates the threat of the far-right in an accessible, non-jargony way and Perliger’s introduction to the topic may encourage readers to become more informed about some of the complexities and nuances of the far-right...a multifaceted analysis. -- Samantha Kutner, Khalifa Ihler Institute * Critical Studies on Terrorism *A refreshing and valuable perspective...American Zealots provides a valuable contribution to the growing literature of the contemporary far-right in the United States. -- Matthew Valasik * Criminal Law and Criminal Justice Book Reviews *An exceptional read into the domestic terrorist threat....for anyone interested in reading into domestic terrorism, its cultural impact, and the potential for continued acts of violence the book is highly recommended. * Populism *Offers a useful ideological typology of the American far right. * Survival *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. The Challenges of Comprehending and Responding to Domestic Terrorism2. An Ideological Typology of the Violent Far Right3. Historical Pillars of the Violent American Far Right4. Tactics of the American Far Right5.The Rise and Decline of Far-Right Violence in the United States6. Perpetrators of Far-Right Violence7. Contemporary Discourse of the American Far Right8. The Future of the Violent American Far RightAppendix: Methodology and Statistical ResultsNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisDrawing upon research in cultural psychiatry, cultural psychology, and psychiatric anthropology, Neil Krishan Aggarwal investigates how the Islamic State has convinced people to engage in violence. Aggarwal offers a definitive analysis of how culture is created, debated, and disseminated within militant organizations like the Islamic State.Trade ReviewAggarwal creates a complete and engaging analysis of the material, providing a wealth of diverse academic theory and making a series of innovative and intriguing links between the functioning of terrorist organizations and nonterroristic counterparts. He brings a unique perspective to the area and expertise that allows him to understand and investigate the role that the materials play in a nuanced and theoretical manner. -- John Voll, Georgetown UniversityHow do jihadis persuade faraway followers to kill in their name? Aggarwal provides a detailed exploration of jihadi discourse to explain how adherents disrupt their audience's thoughts and emotions to promote violence. A definitive analysis of terrorists' psychology of persuasion. -- Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants KillRarely does a body of scholarship navigate the academic, practitioner, and current conversation on transnational terrorism. With careful and meticulous content analysis using primary sources, Aggarwal offers insights utilizing his professional expertise as a clinical psychiatrist and his deep understanding of terrorist movements. Readers will be rewarded with an intellectual journey that offers fresh perspectives and insights that will aid policy observers in this field globally. -- Muhammad Fraser-Rahim, executive director, Quilliam FoundationAggarwal’s book fills a major gap in our understanding of the Islamic State and its appeal. His exploration of media from IS's predecessor groups from a cultural and psychological approach provides an important distillation that highlights how it has also evolved and changed over time, helping better contextualize where the group is today. -- Aaron Y. Zelin, Richard Borow Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East PolicyThere is no doubt that the media in its broadest form plays a role in informing, educating, and teaching us about ‘the other’—and at times pandering to our prejudices. Neil Aggarwal analyzes the way media can be and is often used and manipulated, while highlighting cultural factors that play a major role in a number of ways. He has begun a dialogue in careful, thought-provoking style. -- Dinesh Bhugra, emeritus professor, King’s College LondonResearchers in any field who seek to understand ISIS’s substantial propaganda output, as well as those seeking an insight into their inner group dynamics, would find this book very useful. -- Sean Looney * Media, War, and Conflict *Media Persuasion in the Islamic State illustrates the ways in which new media can be used to induce barbarianism, even to the level of suicidal behaviour, using a single powerful religion rather than physical territory as a base. -- Martin Guha * International Journal of Social Psychiatry *Aggarwal’s study forcefully brings to light new intricate and significant observations regarding the psychological techniques pursued by militant jihadist media. * Middle Eastern Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. Studying Islamic State Discourse as Mediated Disorder2. The Organization of Monotheism and Jihad: Constructing a Militant Cultural Identity3. Al Qaeda in Iraq: OMJ, Al Qaeda, and Militant Acculturation4. The Assembly of the Mujahideen Council: Common Group Identity Formation5. The Islamic State of Iraq, 2006–2013: A Shift in Militant Identity6. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria: Militant Cultural Diffusion7. The Islamic State: The Transmission of Militancy in Families8. Toward a Science, Policy, and Practice of Militant Counter-MessagingNotesReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisVerena Erlenbusch rejects attempts to define what terrorism is in favor of a historico-philosophical investigation into the conditions under which uses of this contested term become meaningful. Genealogies of Terrorism is an empirically grounded and philosophically rigorous critical history with important political implications.Trade ReviewErlenbusch-Anderson’s work is a brilliant contribution to Critical Terrorism Studies, not only deconstructing the labelling processes of this violence, but analysing these in relation to the historical, social, and political contexts that allowed the emergence of these dispositifs, and reflecting on the power relations embedded in these processes and societies in general. * Critical Studies on Terrorism *Makes a valuable contribution to an under-developed literature and she offers some tantalizing points of departure for future explorations of an important and timely subject. Genealogies is an eminently worthwhile read. * ID: International Dialogue *In Genealogies of Terrorism: Revolution, State Violence, Empire, Verena ErlenbuschAnderson takes on the ambitious project of providing a broadly Foucauldian genealogical account of the concept and practice of “terrorism.” -- Wendy Lynne Lee * ID: International Dialogue *One can only be impressed by the depth and scope of Erlenbusch-Anderson’s treatment of terrorism. . . . I should think that the impact of her book will reach beyond philosophy and political theory, beyond the academy. It is, to borrow a phrase, must reading for anyone who wants to understand the historical emergence of terrorism and how it continues to shape the contemporary world. -- Michael Clifford * Syndicate *This is an urgently needed intervention. The longstanding shared academic/policy-maker endeavor to define terrorism has failed spectacularly, to the point that cliché now best expresses the term’s meaning. . . . Genealogies of Terrorism is a refreshing refusal of both philosophical and political orthodoxies that have only obscured clarity on the subject of terrorism, whether they be a dogmatic insistence on the definitional enterprise or the outright refusal of history. -- C. Heike Schotten * Perspectives on Politics *Erlenbusch-Anderson provides an eloquent account of terrorism as a dispositif and compiles an impressive amount of historical evidence to locate and excavate various uses of the word 'terrorism' throughout its history. -- Sarah DiMaggio * Syndicate *Inspired by Wittgenstein and Foucault, and contemporary debates about concepts, in this remarkable book Verena Erlenbusch-Anderson undertakes a significant examination of terrorism. Rather than assuming its meaning and looking for that in her sources, she instead allows a multifaceted understanding to emerge from a historical study of texts and practices. A powerful and urgent intervention for our troubled times. -- Stuart Elden, University of WarwickThis book is political philosophy at its best. It offers an instructive model of mobilizing philosophical genealogy for a critique of a highly-charged idea. It complicates the seeming obviousness with which the concept of 'terrorism' is today purveyed. Through meticulous historical and philosophical analysis, this book shows how the concept of terrorism came to be an explosive, dangerous, and contested political idea. -- Colin Koopman, University of OregonVerena Erlenbusch-Anderson’s careful genealogy of 'terrorism'—tracking the term’s multiple and overdetermined meanings since its first appearance as a political concept in the late eighteenth century—powerfully shows us how we all too frequently ask the wrong questions about terrorism. This critical book offers a necessary corrective to how we think about terrorism, and it reshapes the grounds upon which we should have any meaningful debate about terrorism in the present moment. -- Andrew Dilts, Loyola Marymount UniversityAn empirically rich, carefully contextualized and well-documented study of the different forms that terrorism has taken over time. * Political Theory *Offers scholars, students, and policymakers alike a lot to think about. * H-War *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. The Trouble with Terrorism2. The Emergence of Terrorism3. State Terrorism Revisited4. Terrorism and Colonialism5. Reimagining Terrorism at the End of History6. Towards a Critical Theory of Terrorism: Genealogy and NormativityNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisVerena Erlenbusch rejects attempts to define what terrorism is in favor of a historico-philosophical investigation into the conditions under which uses of this contested term become meaningful. Genealogies of Terrorism is an empirically grounded and philosophically rigorous critical history with important political implications.Trade ReviewErlenbusch-Anderson’s work is a brilliant contribution to Critical Terrorism Studies, not only deconstructing the labelling processes of this violence, but analysing these in relation to the historical, social, and political contexts that allowed the emergence of these dispositifs, and reflecting on the power relations embedded in these processes and societies in general. * Critical Studies on Terrorism *Makes a valuable contribution to an under-developed literature and she offers some tantalizing points of departure for future explorations of an important and timely subject. Genealogies is an eminently worthwhile read. * ID: International Dialogue *In Genealogies of Terrorism: Revolution, State Violence, Empire, Verena ErlenbuschAnderson takes on the ambitious project of providing a broadly Foucauldian genealogical account of the concept and practice of “terrorism.” -- Wendy Lynne Lee * ID: International Dialogue *One can only be impressed by the depth and scope of Erlenbusch-Anderson’s treatment of terrorism. . . . I should think that the impact of her book will reach beyond philosophy and political theory, beyond the academy. It is, to borrow a phrase, must reading for anyone who wants to understand the historical emergence of terrorism and how it continues to shape the contemporary world. -- Michael Clifford * Syndicate *This is an urgently needed intervention. The longstanding shared academic/policy-maker endeavor to define terrorism has failed spectacularly, to the point that cliché now best expresses the term’s meaning. . . . Genealogies of Terrorism is a refreshing refusal of both philosophical and political orthodoxies that have only obscured clarity on the subject of terrorism, whether they be a dogmatic insistence on the definitional enterprise or the outright refusal of history. -- C. Heike Schotten * Perspectives on Politics *Erlenbusch-Anderson provides an eloquent account of terrorism as a dispositif and compiles an impressive amount of historical evidence to locate and excavate various uses of the word 'terrorism' throughout its history. -- Sarah DiMaggio * Syndicate *Inspired by Wittgenstein and Foucault, and contemporary debates about concepts, in this remarkable book Verena Erlenbusch-Anderson undertakes a significant examination of terrorism. Rather than assuming its meaning and looking for that in her sources, she instead allows a multifaceted understanding to emerge from a historical study of texts and practices. A powerful and urgent intervention for our troubled times. -- Stuart Elden, University of WarwickThis book is political philosophy at its best. It offers an instructive model of mobilizing philosophical genealogy for a critique of a highly-charged idea. It complicates the seeming obviousness with which the concept of 'terrorism' is today purveyed. Through meticulous historical and philosophical analysis, this book shows how the concept of terrorism came to be an explosive, dangerous, and contested political idea. -- Colin Koopman, University of OregonVerena Erlenbusch-Anderson’s careful genealogy of 'terrorism'—tracking the term’s multiple and overdetermined meanings since its first appearance as a political concept in the late eighteenth century—powerfully shows us how we all too frequently ask the wrong questions about terrorism. This critical book offers a necessary corrective to how we think about terrorism, and it reshapes the grounds upon which we should have any meaningful debate about terrorism in the present moment. -- Andrew Dilts, Loyola Marymount UniversityAn empirically rich, carefully contextualized and well-documented study of the different forms that terrorism has taken over time. * Political Theory *Offers scholars, students, and policymakers alike a lot to think about. * H-War *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. The Trouble with Terrorism2. The Emergence of Terrorism3. State Terrorism Revisited4. Terrorism and Colonialism5. Reimagining Terrorism at the End of History6. Towards a Critical Theory of Terrorism: Genealogy and NormativityNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisBryan C. Price offers a data-driven examination of leadership decapitation tactics in counterterrorism. Analyzing hundreds of cases of leadership turnover from over two hundred terrorist groups, Price demonstrates that the loss of top leaders significantly reduces terror groups’ life spans.Trade ReviewFrom one of the country's leading experts on terrorism, Targeting Top Terrorists breaks important new ground in our understanding of terrorist groups, the importance of their leaders, and the implications of removing those leaders from the battlefield. It is rare that a book speaks to academics, policy makers, and war fighters, but Price's book does just that. -- Michael Morell, former acting director and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency and host of the Intelligence Matters podcastTargeting Top Terrorists analyzes the impact of leadership decapitation from both empirical and quantitative perspectives, and Price’s research presents new findings that make a significant and original contribution to the current literature. This book is a must-read for both scholars and policy makers. -- Boaz Ganor, dean of the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Center, HerzliyaIs leadership decapitation an effective tool in contending with the persistent threat posed by terrorist groups? In Targeting Top Terrorists, Bryan Price tackles this critical question with theoretical rigor, methodological sophistication, and empirical depth to produce an incisive and nuanced study that scholars and practitioners of counterterrorism cannot afford to ignore. -- Assaf Moghadam, author of Nexus of Global Jihad: Understanding Cooperation Among Terrorist ActorsOne of the most rigorous studies to date. -- Jonathan Stevenson * New York Review of Books *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. Introduction2. Organizations and Leaders3. Leadership in Terrorist Organizations4. Quantitative Analysis of Leadership Decapitation in Terrorist Groups5. The Effects of Leadership Decapitation on Hamas6. Conclusion: Policy Implications and Future ResearchAppendixNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisBryan C. Price offers a data-driven examination of leadership decapitation tactics in counterterrorism. Analyzing hundreds of cases of leadership turnover from over two hundred terrorist groups, Price demonstrates that the loss of top leaders significantly reduces terror groups’ life spans.Trade ReviewFrom one of the country's leading experts on terrorism, Targeting Top Terrorists breaks important new ground in our understanding of terrorist groups, the importance of their leaders, and the implications of removing those leaders from the battlefield. It is rare that a book speaks to academics, policy makers, and war fighters, but Price's book does just that. -- Michael Morell, former acting director and deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency and host of the Intelligence Matters podcastTargeting Top Terrorists analyzes the impact of leadership decapitation from both empirical and quantitative perspectives, and Price’s research presents new findings that make a significant and original contribution to the current literature. This book is a must-read for both scholars and policy makers. -- Boaz Ganor, dean of the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy, Interdisciplinary Center, HerzliyaIs leadership decapitation an effective tool in contending with the persistent threat posed by terrorist groups? In Targeting Top Terrorists, Bryan Price tackles this critical question with theoretical rigor, methodological sophistication, and empirical depth to produce an incisive and nuanced study that scholars and practitioners of counterterrorism cannot afford to ignore. -- Assaf Moghadam, author of Nexus of Global Jihad: Understanding Cooperation Among Terrorist ActorsOne of the most rigorous studies to date. -- Jonathan Stevenson * New York Review of Books *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments1. Introduction2. Organizations and Leaders3. Leadership in Terrorist Organizations4. Quantitative Analysis of Leadership Decapitation in Terrorist Groups5. The Effects of Leadership Decapitation on Hamas6. Conclusion: Policy Implications and Future ResearchAppendixNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisAaron Y. Zelin uncovers the history of Tunisian involvement in the jihadi movement and offers an in-depth examination of the reasons why so many Tunisians became drawn to jihadism following the 2011 revolution. Your Sons Are at Your Service is a meticulously researched account that challenges simplified views of jihadism’s appeal and success.Trade ReviewBacked by an astonishing body of research, Your Sons Are at Your Service is a sweeping, authoritative history of Tunisian jihadism, with new revelations on almost every page. Zelin is one of the most respected scholars studying terrorism at the top of his game in this debut book. -- J. M. Berger, author of ExtremismIn this meticulously researched book packed with new discoveries, Zelin provides a comprehensive history of Tunisian jihadism, one of the least studied branches of the jihadi movement. But Your Sons Are at Your Service is much more than a country case study: it provides important insights on broader topics such as postrevolutionary politics, Salafi activism, foreign fighting, rebel recruitment, jihadi ideology, the Islamic State, and the war in Libya. This book should be on the shelf of any serious student of the modern Middle East. -- Thomas Hegghammer, author of Jihad in Saudi Arabia: Violence and Pan-Islamism Since 1979Zelin presents a striking and unique study of the Tunisian jihadi mobilization in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, its historical roots in the 1980s, and in the global jihadi movement. He has conducted extremely valuable and innovative research, collecting data and speaking with activists and leaders in the extremist circles on the ground in Tunisia. The book cements Zelin’s reputation as an expert in his field, prized for his independent voice on this critical subject. -- Jytte Klausen, Brandeis UniversityTo understand modern jihadism as an ideology and dogma, the Tunisian jihadi movement provides a unique case. They were among the first, the most dedicated, and the most radical international recruits, challenging authorities at home and abroad. Some challenged the Taliban, al-Qaeda, and even the Islamic State. Zelin gives a glimpse into the past and future of jihadism through the Tunisian scope. -- Wassim Nasr, France 24The stupefying body of research contained in this volume, the precise but constantly engaging historical reconstruction, and the meticulous fieldwork from which it stems — along with the remarkable precision of the vocabulary — make it one of the best works in the field of jihadi studies in quite some time. * European Eye on Radicalization *Zelin’s step-by-step analysis of the response of the Tunisian state toward AST-orchestrated violence is particularlyilluminating. * Perspectives on Politics *Table of ContentsAcknowledgmentsAbbreviationsNote on TransliterationIntroduction1. The Generation of Zaytunah2. A Scattered Group with a Less-Than-Perfect Image3. Come Do Jihad4. Sons of Tunisia5. Tunisia Is a Land of Dawa6. Hear from Us, Not About Us7. Tunisians Can Be Found Everywhere in the Land of Jihad8. It Was Mostly the Tunisians Who Were Involved in Takfir9. Honest Ones Among the Dawa People Must Come to al-Sham10. We Are Here to Protect You from This Nonbeliever Government11. The Future of the Tunisian Jihadi MovementAuthor’s Note on TerminologyNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTwo internationally recognized experts use newly available documents from al-Qaeda and ISIS to explain how jihadist groups think, grow, and adapt. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Thomas Joscelyn recast militant groups as learning organizations, detailing their embrace of strategic, tactical, and technological innovation.Trade ReviewEnemies Near and Far offers a compelling explanation for the persistence of Al Qaeda and ISIS despite more than twenty years of aggressive U.S. counterterrorism. Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Thomas Joscelyn, two leading terrorism experts, explain how jihadist groups innovate and how counterterrorism officials can better anticipate, and disrupt, these deadly organizations. -- Daniel Byman, author of Road Warriors: Foreign Fighters in the Armies of JihadEnemies Near and Far is an impressively comprehensive overview of terrorism around the world in the modern era. Gartenstein-Ross and Joscelyn’s excellent theoretical framework provides compelling insights to which every policy maker should pay close attention. -- Yasmin Green, director of research and development, Jigsaw (Google)Very few can master the complexity of the ever-expanding list of local movements, but Gartenstein-Ross and Joscelyn give us an authoritative bird’s eye view of jihadism around the globe, with tremendous access and analysis of important primary sources uncovered in their exhaustive research. -- Craig Whiteside, coauthor of The ISIS Reader: Milestone Texts of the Islamic State MovementEnemies Near and Far is a well-researched and comprehensive examination of the organizational culture and strategic preferences of al-Qaeda and the ISIS and their many allies...a conceptual masterpiece. * Small Wars Journal *Table of Contents1. The Fire Next Time2. Learning to Win3. The Far-Enemy Strategy4. The Unfriendly Skies: Plots Against Aviation5. The Early Adopter: Anwar al-Awlaki in the Digital Space6. Strategic Learning: Al-Qaeda and Jihadism in the Arab Spring7. The Islamic State’s Rise and Rule8. The Fitna: ISIS Versus al-Qaeda9. How al-Qaeda Survived the War in Afghanistan10. ISIS’s External Operations: A Study in Innovation11. The Past and Future of Jihadist Organizational LearningAcknowledgmentsAbbreviationsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisDrawing on groundbreaking personal interviews as well as decades of research from psychologists and others, John Horgan traces the pathways that lead people into violent extremism and explores what happens to them as their involvement deepens.Trade ReviewA masterful exploration of the question of who becomes a terrorist and why, by the world’s leading expert on the psychology of terrorism. Horgan explains how far our understanding has come since 9/11 and provides a blueprint for future studies. An essential primer about the complex mix of social conditions and psychology that lead individuals to turn to terrorist violence, and why and how they leave terrorism behind. -- Jessica Stern, author of Terror in the Name of God: Why Religious Militants KillBoiling down oceans of research into lucid prose, Terrorist Minds represents a major achievement. Horgan surveys what is already known about the psychology of terrorism, and how in the future we might yet see further and clearer. An inspiring book that wears its immense learning lightly. -- T. K. Wilson, author of Killing Strangers: How Political Violence Became ModernTerrorist Minds is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand how and why people become involved with terrorism—and how and why they sometimes quit. Throughout this book, Horgan, one of the most brilliant minds in our field, offers an engaging, masterful blend of research and insights from talking directly with terrorists. This authoritative masterpiece brings invaluable clarity to a profoundly complex topic. -- Randy Borum, coeditor of Violent Extremism: A Handbook of Risk Assessment and ManagementLike a skilled climber, John Horgan ascends the summits, where the air is thin and few dare to travel. Terrorist Minds is an exploratory journey that identifies hazards and illuminates the new trails that have yet to be blazed within terrorism research. -- Mark Fallon, author of Unjustifiable Means: The Inside Story of How the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Government Conspired to TortureTable of ContentsPreface1. What Is Terrorism?2. Who Becomes a Terrorist?3. Motivation4. Mindset5. Reintegration6. Talking to Terrorists7. Chasing StormsAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisStarting in 2001, much of the world media used the image of Osama bin Laden as a shorthand for terrorism. Bin Laden himself considered media manipulation on a par with military, political, and ideological tools, and intentionally used interviews, taped speeches, and distributed statements to further al-Qaida's ends.Trade Review"The volume's contributors have produced a splendid resource that will improve our understanding of the power of diverse forms of media in manipulating bin Laden's public image for audiences worldwide. . . . Their work will greatly benefit scholars researching this ruthless but fascinating figure and his ongoing historical impact." --H-Net Reviews"Illustrates the details of the construction of the bridge between various communication fields [and] underscores the relationship among political players, the news media, and popular cultures. These connections are often talked about, but seldom with the sophistication found in this volume. . . . A thoughtful and valuable book."--Philip Seib, author of Real-Time Diplomacy: Politics and Power in the Social Media Era"An extremely timely and important collection on a theme that has huge contemporary significance, both politically and from a communication/popular culture perspective."--Daya K. Thussu, author of News as Entertainment: The Rise of Global Infotainment"This is an important book, well suited for graduate studies—media studies or global media. Each chapter is interesting, insightful, and completely written—bringing a diverse wealth of knowledge on a contentious topic that elicits mixed reactions across civilizations."--Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly"This book is concerned with the presentation and interpretation of bin Laden, which is crucial. The assessments of some contributors may surprise younger readers, but those who are older will likely enjoy the details. Recommended."--Choice"This book beautifully unpacks the ways in which the global media displayed and narrated Osama bin Laden. It is an innovative and exciting analysis of the presumptions and investments that were central to the construction of bin Laden on the world stage. An important contribution to media studies and the history of the United States in a global context."--Melani McAlister, author of Epic Encounters: Culture, Media, and U.S. Interests in the Middle East since 1945

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewUsing narrative, topic placement, and a pattern of case files, [Silinsky] expertly weaves the story of the current conflict through the points of view of perpetrators, victims, and nations as gathered from public sources. * Journal of Military History *This is an interesting and well-written comprehensive primer of the full magnitude of the Islamic State's jihadi war against the West, the extremist religious ideology that animates it, Western Muslim individuals who have been radicalized, indoctrinated, and mobilized to fight on its behalf, and their terrorist operations against the West. * Perspectives on Terrorism, December 2016 *Table of ContentsForewordGlossaryIntroduction1. Black Flag over Babylon2. Eurabia and Beyond: The Caliphate's Breeding Ground3. The Caliphate in Western Culture4. Blue-Eyed Jihad: The Caliphate's Foreign Legion, Part One5. Blue-Eyed Jihad: The Caliphate's Foreign Legion, Part Two6. Salafist Dystopia: Life in the State7. The Killing Floor8. The Caliphate Abroad: The Anglo-Saxons9. Black Flags Abroad: The French SpeakersEpilogue: "A Taste of Vengeance"BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewUsing narrative, topic placement, and a pattern of case files, [Silinsky] expertly weaves the story of the current conflict through the points of view of perpetrators, victims, and nations as gathered from public sources. * Journal of Military History *This is an interesting and well-written comprehensive primer of the full magnitude of the Islamic State's jihadi war against the West, the extremist religious ideology that animates it, Western Muslim individuals who have been radicalized, indoctrinated, and mobilized to fight on its behalf, and their terrorist operations against the West. * Perspectives on Terrorism, December 2016 *Table of ContentsForewordGlossaryIntroduction1. Black Flag over Babylon2. Eurabia and Beyond: The Caliphate's Breeding Ground3. The Caliphate in Western Culture4. Blue-Eyed Jihad: The Caliphate's Foreign Legion, Part One5. Blue-Eyed Jihad: The Caliphate's Foreign Legion, Part Two6. Salafist Dystopia: Life in the State7. The Killing Floor8. The Caliphate Abroad: The Anglo-Saxons9. Black Flags Abroad: The French SpeakersEpilogue: "A Taste of Vengeance"BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisFew countries have experienced more acts of terrorism over a prolonged period than Israel. This book describes how different segments of Israeli society have coped with terrorism - survivors of attacks, families of victims, emergency responders, doctors and nurses, and, in the end, the general population.Trade ReviewLeonard Cole wants to wake the world to what Israel has suffered—and learned—from terror attacks.July 13, 2007 * The Jewish Standard *Mr. Cole's book is essential reading for all those involved in homeland security preparedness. * Washington Times *Terror will appeal to readers seeking to understand the immediate human cost of terrorism and learn how Israel's medical and psychological professionals cope with lingering effects. By delivering the story through the eyes of terror victims and those who assist them, Cole will move many readers emotionally. . . * ForeWord *If there is any benefit from the sad fact of terrorism that has plagued Israel's life for decades it is the possibility that other nations and other peoples might find something from the Israeli experience that can help them, as terrorism has become a world-wide scourge. Leonard Cole's book gives the fullest description of this process available today. -- Mortimer B. Zuckerman, Editor-in-Chief * U.S. News & World Report *Table of ContentsContentsPrologue1. Terror2. Zaka3. Buses 4. Survivors5. Families6. Doctors and Nurses7. Terror, Medicine, and Security8. American Rehearsal9. Teaching from Experience10. Trauma: 9/11 and the Intifada 11. Palestinians12. Challenges and Lessons13. Beyond TerrorAcknowledgmentsNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisIn response to the attacks on America of 11th September 2001, photographer Nathan Lyons, known for his honest and often questioning depictions of American culture, has created a portfolio of images.

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Book SynopsisThe authorized hardcover, indexed edition of the national bestseller.Trade Review"Meticulous in its reconstruction and unflinching in its conclusions." -- Time"A document of historic sweep and almost unprecedented detail." -- Washington Post

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Book SynopsisBy the lead commissioner of the UN investigation, an authoritative account of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.Trade Review"This is a chilling account of deceit, corruption and murder at the highest levels of power in Pakistan, an American ally. A carefully researched and compelling tale of tragedy masked as a government." -- Tom Brokaw"Muñoz has written a brilliant, incisive and page turning book—the last word on Benazir Bhutto’s assassination. The murder of Benazir Bhutto shook a nation and the world but until now there has never been an authoritative explanation as to how and why she died. Muñoz comes closest to identifying those guilty of her untimely and tragic death, guiding us through the enigma and chaos that is Pakistan and the double dealing that sustains the tortured relationship between that country and the United States." -- Ahmed Rashid, author of Pakistan on the Brink: The Future of America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan"Like some of history’s other high-profile assassinations, including that of John F. Kennedy, the killing of Benazir Bhutto remains cloaked in rumor, speculation, and suspicion. Heraldo Muñoz and his colleagues found skeletons in many closets, smoking guns in many hands…The story of their search makes for a gripping read, but far more valuable are the insights Muñoz elicits about the nature of Pakistani society and its political culture." -- Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan"One opens this book to learn more about what lay behind the tragic death of Benazir Bhutto and is immediately drawn into its context—the turbulence of Pakistan’s politics and international relations going back to the foundation of the state. The book is essential reading for all who want to understand more about the state of Pakistan and the fate of one of its most talented daughters." -- Helen Clark, administrator of UNDP and former prime minister of New Zealand

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Book SynopsisFrom one of our most trusted counterterrorism experts, a sweeping, insider's account of the decade-long chase for America's deadliest enemy.Trade Review"A wider-angle view of the war on terror... [A]n important book." -- Jonathan Mahler "Seth Jones is a gifted writer and scholar. His research, attention to detail and narrative skills make Hunting in the Shadows essential reading. At a time of public uncertainty about where the war against Al Qaeda is going, here is a reliable, compelling map, rich with new information." -- Steve Coll, Author of The Secret History of the CIA, Afghanistan, and Bin Laden, from the Soviet Invasion to September 10, 2001 "Seth Jones has produced a masterpiece, pulling together a fragmented and little-known sequence of events into a coherent, and highly readable account. His 'wave and counter-wave' framework helps make sense of complex patterns, and his analysis is likely to stand the test of time. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in current events or in the future of conflict." -- David Kilcullen, author of The Accidental Guerilla "The best researched study of al Qaeda's plots, both successful and foiled, to attack America and its allies since 911. A critical account essential to understanding how the threat is evolving." -- Bruce Riedel, former CIA officer and senior advisor to three U.S. presidents on the Middle East and South Asia (also senior fellow at the Brookings Institution) "Seth Jones was called to the war zones by commanders of special operations forces to advise them on the nuances of the places, people and events of high importance in our pursuit of terrorists. Hunting in the Shadows is a clear and engaging account that draws on Seth's long experience in the region - a truly valuable work by a uniquely knowledgeable and talented writer." -- Admiral Eric T. Olson, U.S. Navy (Ret), Former Commander of United States Special Operations Command "A chronological, historical walk-through of successive waves of al-Qaeda terrorism from 1998 to the present... The author ably organizes all the pieces of the puzzle regarding successive terrorist attacks, fleshing out the numerous personalities involved, ... and establishing excellent perspective on the amorphous nature of the enemy and the dissention from within. ... From a knowledgeable guide, a thoughtful study of the pattern of violence and response."

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Book SynopsisNarrates a crucial turning point in Nigerian history, the Agbekoya rebellion of 1968-70, as chronicled by Toyin Falola, reflecting on his firsthand experiences as a teenage witness to history. Falola, the foremost scholar of Africa of this generation, illuminates the complex factors that led to this armed conflict and details the unfolding of major events and manoeuvres.Trade Review“With this book Toyin Falola joins a band of distinguished and special historians who participated in the making of history they narrate…I found this book as enjoyable as Trotsky's history of the Russian Revolution. While the scale of the two historical incidents are different, the writing is as close to the guts and as stirring of the senses as any personal history can be. This book also distinguishes itself as a modern classic in which one culture (Yoruba rebellion) is successfully written in the language of another (English). A unique reading experience.”—Kole Omotoso“Chronicles the cultures and traditions of Yorubaland of the 1960s, including the predominance of African traditional religions; Christianity; Islam; polygamy; agriculture; education; work ethics; and sacrifice . . . a must read for scholars of African life-writing, history, sociology, economics, politics, and gender studies, as well as those interested in African, Diaspora, comparative studies and the autobiographical genre.”—Adetayo Alabi, University of Mississippi“‘When an old man dies, a library is burned,’ said the late Hampate Ba. Book by book, Toyin Falola is building a library for Africa and the world, fashioned from his memories, wit, and wisdom. His are the tales of a generation who came of age at the same time as their nations. The tales are compelling, fierce, and funny, to be read and cherished.”—Aminatta Forna, author of The Memory of Love

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Book SynopsisSince the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Western nations have increasingly recognised religion as a consideration in domestic and foreign policy. In this empirical comparison of the securitization of Islam in Britain, France, and the United States, Robert M. Bosco argues that religion is a category of phenomena defined by the discourses and politics of both religious and state elites.Trade Review“Framing religion as a national security matter is perilous, as this shortbut well-argued volume demonstrates. . . Recommended.” - Choice

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Book SynopsisDespite the centrality of mobility to the operations of both state and non-state armed groups as well as the survival strategies of civilians in conflict zones, issues of mobility have remained tangential to how we analyse armed insurgencies. This book foregrounds mobility as a key arena where state and non-state actors jostle for ascendancy.Table of Contents Introduction: The Neglected Linkages between Mobility and Insurgency 1: Dangerous Work(ers): Youth, Motorcycles and Stuckedness 2: Local Immobility and Mobilization into Boko Haram 3: A Turning Point: The Bike-Helmet Law and the July 2009 Violence 4: The Wheels of Insurgency: Mobile Warfare, Security Force Abuses, and Civilian Resistance 5: Governance through Mobility: Subversive Mobilities, State Counterinsurgency and the Politics of Dispossession 6: Conclusion: Toward a Mobile Logic of Insurgency Bibliography

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Book SynopsisThis collection of essays is written by anthropologists who have experienced the unpredictability and trauma of political violence firsthand. The book uses theoretical, ethnographic and methodological points of view to illuminate the processes and solutions characterizing life in dangerous places.Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION The Anthropology and Ethnography of Violence and Sociopolitical Conflict Antonius C. G. M. Robben and Carolyn Nordstrom PRISONERS OF LOVE With Genet in the Palestinian Field Ted Swedenburg RUMOR The Beginning of the End Anna Simons ACCIDENTAL ANTHROPOLOGY Witnessing the 1989 Chinese People's Movement Frank N. Pieke SEDUCTION AND PERSUASION The Politics of Truth and Emotion among Victims and Perpetrators of Violence Antonius C.G.M. Robben FEAR Living in a State of Fear Linda Green CREATIVITY AND CHAOS War on the Front Lines Carolyn Nordstrom RAPE ATTACK Ethnography ofthe Ethnographer Cathy Winkler, with Penelope] Hanke COMING HOME The Croatian War Experience Maria B. Olujic FACE The Anthropologist as Terrorist Joseba Zulaika EPILOGUE Ethnographic States of Emergency Allen Feldman ENDPIECES: THE DOING OF ANTHROPOLOGY Myrna Mack Elizabeth Oglesby Reflections on an Antropologia Comprometida: Conversations with Ricardo Falla Beatriz Manz Reflections on Managing Danger in Fieldwork: Dangerous Anthropology in Belfast Jeffrey A. Sluka CONTRIBUTORS INDEX

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Book SynopsisA story of the Bush administration's response to the attacks of September 11, 2001 - and of how we have been led down a path of executive abuses, human tragedies, abandonment of the Constitution, and the erosion of due process and liberty. This work chronicles the black hole of the American judicial system since 2001.Trade Review"Provides a compelling account of the human costs of the erosion of civil rights in the post-9/11 US." Times Higher Education "A powerful indictment Bush's War on Terror, vivid and horrifying and hard to put down." Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsList of Illustrations The Cuban Iguana and American Jurisprudence Foreword by Erwin Chermerinsky Opening Part One: Manipulating the Law Introducing the Term Enemy Combatant Justifying Harsh Interrogations and Torture Asserting Absolute Power as Commander-in-Chief Part Two: Lawless Detentions in America Yaser Hamdi, American Citizen Jose Padilla, American Citizen Ali Saleh Kalah Al Marri, American Resident Preventive Detention Part Three: Lawless Detentions in Guantanamo I. Guantanamo and the Road to the Supreme Court, 2002-2004 Why Guantanamo? Martin Luther King Weekend, January 2002 The Road to the Supreme Court With a Little Help from the Cuban Iguana A Historic Supreme Court Decision: Rasul v. Bush II. Inhumane Treatment of Detainees at Guantanamo Interrogation Log of a Guantanamo Detainee FBI Report: July 29, 2004 Denial of Treatment Suicides at the Base Emergency Response Force Hunger Strikers and Forced Feeding III. The Administration under Siege, 2004-2006 Combatant Status Review Tribunals (CSRTs) Government Interference with Attorneys The Administration's Legal Position Falters Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 IV. Winds of Change, 2006-2008 A Second Historic Supreme Court Decision: Hamdan v. Rumsfeld The Military Commissions Act The Third Guantanamo Case: Boumediene v. Bush Supreme Court Oral Arguments A Parallel Case on Reviewing CSRT Hearings The Return to War Crime Prosecutions: Hicks, Khadr, and Hamdan Victory: Boumediene v. Bush Part Four: Foreign Prisons and CIA Black Sites The Evolution of Extraordinary Rendition Case Study: Khalid El-Masri Case Study: Maher Arar Case Study: Abu Omar Violating Human Rights Laws Part Five: Detentions in America with Due Process John Walker Lindh Richard Colvin Reid Zacarias Moussaoui The Lackawanna Six Closing Addendum: Visiting Guantanamo Bay List of Abbreviations Notes Index

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Book SynopsisFor most Americans, September 11, 2001, symbolized the moment when their security was altered. For Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans, 9/11 also ushered in a backlash in the form of hate crimes and a string of devastating government initiatives. This book analyses the impact of the post-9/11 events on Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans.Trade Review"An indispensable and pioneering work." Journal Of Balkan And Near Eastern StudiesTable of ContentsList of Figures and Tables List of Abbreviations Acknowledgments 1. Backlash against Middle Eastern and Muslim Americans 2. The Post-9/11 Backlash in Comparative and Historical Perspectives 3. Immigration Patterns, Characteristics, and Identities 4. Organizational Structures and Transformation 5. Hate Crimes and Bias Incidents 6. Government Initiatives and the Impact of the Backlash 7. Mobilization 8. Religious Accommodation, Civic Engagement, and Political Integration Appendix. A Time Line of Government Initiatives and Actions Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisOn March 24, 1980, the assassination of El Salvador's Archbishop Oscar Romero rocked that nation and the world. This is the story of an international team of lawyers, and experts who fought to bring justice for the slain hero.Trade Review"Our Favorite Books of 2016: Part detective story, part historical reminiscence, it shows the reader how hard it is to prosecute such cases, and why so many human rights violators go unpunished." The Progressive "Fast paced, informative and dramatic... Imagine a report from Amnesty International written by Graham Greene and John LeCarre in tandem and you will have a sense of Eisenbrandt's exciting and well-written achievement." Vancouver Sun "An intriguing story filled with tragic 'if-only's' and powerful -examples of courage." Library Journal "A tale told well that provides valuable insights into the motives and modus operandi of the death squads in El Salvador, and of the financiers who commissioned and facilitated such crimes. It also highlights the difficulties that face those who pursue such cases many years after the crimes have taken place." New York Review of Books "Assassination begins like a crime thriller, complete with a criminal manhunt, before transitioning into a courtroom drama. Ultimately, however, the book's lasting value is as a work of history." America "Eisenbrandt's book is rich in depth and form ... This book is specially relevant today." FactUm "For persons familiar with El Salvador's painful modern-day history, Matt Eisenbrandt's Assassination of a Saint: The Plot to Murder Oscar Romero and the Quest to Bring His Killers to Justice connects dots, fills in holes and provides a frontline account of the battle to bring accountability to those who plotted and carried out Blessed Archbishop Oscar Romero's murder. For those who know the martyr mostly by name and reputation, the 250 pages are a primer on the man and his ministry, as well as a remarkable synthesis of the passions, politics and players at work in El Salvador's brutal last half century." National Catholic Reporter "It has taken Matt Eisenbrandt a decade to write this beautifully crafted volume, but it was well worth waiting for." The Catholic Herald "Eisenbrandt is the first to craft a detailed narrative of the plan to murder Romero and ensuing efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice." TeleSurTable of ContentsPreface Introduction Photos Key Figures Maps 1 • “Informational Goulash”: Prior Investigations of the Romero Assassination 2 • “In Violation of the Law of Nations”: The Romero Assassination Comes to the United States 3 • “The Enemy Comes from Our People”: Coffee, Anti-Communism, and the Death Squads 4 • “The Door of History”: Archbishop Romero and the Catholic Church in El Salvador 5 • “A Bed to Drop Dead In”: The Search for Álvaro Saravia and the Death Squad Financiers 6 • “ARENA’s Achilles’ Heel”: Our First Trip to El Salvador 7 • Baby Robbers, Mad Bombers, and Other Assorted Criminals: Saravia’s Escape to Miami Brings U.S. Foreign Policy Full Circle 8 • “You’re Making a Lot of Noise”: Looking for Evidence on the Death Squad Financiers 9 • “You Know Better Than to Ask That”: The Search for the Getaway Driver 10 • “A Rabid Anti-Communist”: Meeting Witnesses from the ARENA Party 11 • “We Don’t Have a Clue What the Hell Is Going On”: The Continuing Hunt for Saravia and Insider Witnesses 12 • “God Forgive Me for What I’m Going to Do”: An Insider Goes on the Record 13 • “There Must Have Been a Thousand Romeros”: Final Interviews and Trial Preparation 14 • “Of a Magnitude That Is Hardly Describable”: The Romero Assassination Case Goes to Trial 15 • “The Fleas Always Stick to the Skinniest Dog”: The Verdict’s Impact on Saravia Epilogue Afterword, by Benjamín Cuéllar Acknowledgments Notes Selected Bibliography Index

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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 SynopsisIn this intimate and innovative work, terror expert Joseba Zulaika examines drone warfare as manhunting carried out via satellite. Using Creech Air Force Base near Las Vegas as his center of study, he interviews drone operators as well as resisters to the war economy of the region to expose the layers offantasyon which counterterrorism and its self-sustaining logic are grounded.Hellfire from Paradise Ranch exposes the terror and warfare of drone killings that dominate our modern military. It unveils thetrauma drone operators experience, in part due to their visual intimacy with their victims, and explores the resistance to drone killings in the same apocalyptic Nevada desert where nuclear testing, pacifist militancy, and Shoshone tradition overlap. Stunning and absorbing, Zulaika offers a richly detailed account of how we continue to manufacture, deconstruct, and perpetuate terror.Table of ContentsPrologue: Slaughterhouse-359 1. The Real: Home of the Hunters 2. Fantasy and the Art of Drone Assassination 3. Drone Wars Returning from the Future 4. Trauma: The Killer as Voyeur 5. Resistance: A Harsh and Dreadful Love Epilogue: Obama’s Troy: Kill Me a Son Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA gripping study of how religiously motivated violence and militant movements end, from the perspectives of those most deeply involved. Mark Juergensmeyer is arguably the globe's leading expert on religious violence, and for decades his books have helped us understand the worlds and worldviews of those who take up arms in the name of their faith. But even the most violent of movements, characterized by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. Juergensmeyer takes readers into the minds of religiously motivated militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines to understand what leads to drastic changes in the attitudes of those once devoted to all-out ideological war. When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence manifests for those who once promoted it as the only answer. Trade Review"When God Stops Fighting is an excellent introductory work. . . .[its] brevity, its smooth readability and its lively descriptions make it both a thought-provoking and an enjoyable read." * Medicine, Conflict, and Survival *"Anyone, be they theologians, religious studies majors, sociologists, psychologists, historians, politicians, lawyers, those entrusted with the arts of conflict resolution, or just a member of the public, should read this book. In doing so, they will come to understand more about the many subtle (and not so subtle) processes by which men (usually) can steer situations either towards tragic disasters or in the direction of those more promising situations When God Stops Fighting." * Reading Religion *"A valuable read for all those interested in militant violence." * Religion *Table of ContentsPreface 1. The Trajectory of Imagined Wars 2. The Apocalyptic War of the Islamic State 3. The Militant Struggle of Mindanao Muslims 4. The Fight for Khalistan in India's Punjab 5. How Imagined Wars End Notes Interviews Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA gripping study of how religiously motivated violence and militant movements end, from the perspectives of those most deeply involved. Mark Juergensmeyer is arguably the globe's leading expert on religious violence, and for decades his books have helped us understand the worlds and worldviews of those who take up arms in the name of their faith. But even the most violent of movements, characterized by grand religious visions of holy warfare, eventually come to an end. Juergensmeyer takes readers into the minds of religiously motivated militants associated with the Islamic State (ISIS) in Iraq, the Sikh Khalistan movement in India's Punjab, and the Moro movement for a Muslim Mindanao in the Philippines to understand what leads to drastic changes in the attitudes of those once devoted to all-out ideological war. When God Stops Fighting reveals how the transformation of religious violence manifests for those who once promoted it as the only answer. Trade Review"When God Stops Fighting is an excellent introductory work. . . .[its] brevity, its smooth readability and its lively descriptions make it both a thought-provoking and an enjoyable read." * Medicine, Conflict, and Survival *"Anyone, be they theologians, religious studies majors, sociologists, psychologists, historians, politicians, lawyers, those entrusted with the arts of conflict resolution, or just a member of the public, should read this book. In doing so, they will come to understand more about the many subtle (and not so subtle) processes by which men (usually) can steer situations either towards tragic disasters or in the direction of those more promising situations When God Stops Fighting." * Reading Religion *"A valuable read for all those interested in militant violence." * Religion *Table of ContentsPreface 1. The Trajectory of Imagined Wars 2. The Apocalyptic War of the Islamic State 3. The Militant Struggle of Mindanao Muslims 4. The Fight for Khalistan in India's Punjab 5. How Imagined Wars End Notes Interviews Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisA former NSC staffer, Stern guides us through a post-Cold War world in which the threat of all-out nuclear war is being replaced by the threat of terrorist attacks with weapons of mass destruction. The book depicts a near future in which independent and state-sponsored terrorism using biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons could occur.Trade Review[Stern's] research is breathtakingly thorough, and the prose, so often describing complex technological detail, surprisingly lucid. The era of 'the ultimate terrorists', implying nuclear, biological or chemical weapons may not yet have dawned in any real sense, but the potential and the danger, as this book illustrates, are all too obvious...[Stern] has written a valuable book that should serve as a timely warning about a potentially dreadful future. -- Sean O'Callaghan * The Times *[A] thought provoking book...Stern's background in the security community, where she ran the Nuclear Smuggling Interagency Group, allows her to write with firsthand knowledge about the disturbing consequences of the breakup of the Soviet Union. Having directed the group for Russian, Ukrainian, and Eurasian affairs, Stern places a particular emphasis on how volatile that region has become...Terrorism may always exist, but Stern's recommendation that we find ways to minimize its ability to cause horror, panic, and alarm might be the ultimate weapon against it. -- Charles Davis * Boston Book Review *The ominous-sounding title The Ultimate Terrorists can't outweigh the balanced and blessedly concise arguments that Jessica Stern presents in the book itself. The threat of terrorism involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD) has given rise to a panic industry; Stern has emerged as one of the few influential voices of calm. -- Tim Cavanaugh * Salon.com *Jessica Stern examines why today's breed of clandestine bomb-throwers are actually more likely to use germs, chemicals or a bit of unguarded enriched uranium from Russia to make their point...[Terrorist] incidents have multiplied more than fivefold since the 1970s, and on average each terrorist now kills twice as many people. Where their old-fashioned counterparts wanted political concessions, many crazies not just want to kill people, or sow dread. There are few better ways to do the job than with germs and poisons. Stern shows how these, along with a simple nuclear device that scatters poisonous isotopes about, are ideal terrorist tools, to prey on humanity's fears. -- Debora MacKenzie * New Scientist *In cool prose that never talks down to lay readers, Stern outlines the horrific effects of biological and chemical agents, making a thoroughly convincing case that a biochemical attack would be compounded by mass panic and a dangerous social breakdown... But even as Stern stokes fear, she also offers an extensive proposal for countering the new terrorism. Her proposals will not be for everyone but will surely provide substantial food for thought. * Publishers Weekly *This important volume is powerfully suggestive of what in all probability will be a potent and dangerous force in the international arena during the coming century--terrorists willing and able to employ weapons of mass destruction in pursuit of their political and ideological aims...Stern has opened a door into a complex realm of politics and policy that defies easy categorization and crosses traditional disciplinary boundaries. Explaining the development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction necessarily involves a substantial degree of scientific and technical expertise, and the author wields this knowledge effectively. -- David W. Thornton * American Diplomacy *[The Ultimate Terrorists] combine[s] serious scholarship with practical wisdom. -- Gideon Rose * Foreign Affairs *This slender volume is largely free of hype, and is characterized by fair reporting and sober analysis...It presents an immensely valuable snapshot of where the world stands vis-à-vis the threat, and how the worst possibilities might be minimized. -- Leonard A. Cole * Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists *This brief but surprisingly thorough book deals with the means, modes, and the likely terrorist actors in several situations...This is a serious book by an author with an intimate knowledge of her subject. Though not a lofty academic treatise, this important policy text gives the reader a reasoned, careful, and thoughtful glimpse into a dark corner of science, politics, and war. Strongly recommended for all libraries. -- E. Lewis * Choice *[Stern's] expertise should convince policymakers of [her proposals'] wisdom, as well as raise public awareness of the danger. -- Gilbert Taylor * Booklist *Jessica Stern's study of terrorism is the most detailed and reliable at this time. It is particularly good with regard to the technical issues involved in biological and chemical terrorism. She acquired unrivaled knowledge, both in a responsible position in government and as an independent scholar. Her book should be widely read and is highly recommended. -- Walter Laqueur,The Ultimate Terrorists is a timely book on a vitally important subject. Jessica Stern has done a thorough job of research and presents her arguments with clarity and force. This book should be a wake up call for Americans. -- William J. Perry, former Secretary of DefenseJessica Stern sounds an important alarm in responsible fashion. A good read as well as good scholarship. I hope her alarm is widely heard. -- Anthony Lake, former National Security AdvisorWhat if the terrorists who bombed the World Trade Center had used a nuclear device or anthrax? Jessica Stern's account reads like a thriller, but is deadly serious. Fortunately, she also provides good advice. -- Joseph S. Nye, Jr., Dean, Kennedy School of GovernmentWill terrorists soon obtain weapons of mass destruction--nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons? If they do acquire them, will terrorists actually use them for blackmail, retribution, or simply pure destruction? These are the questions that Jessica Stern addresses in this important, well-written, and sensible volume. The Ultimate Terrorists is an excellent introduction to a potentially frightful future. -- Robert J. Art, Brandeis UniversityJessica Stern is part of America's security community, and tracking down nuclear smugglers is her specialty. It gives an edge to The Ultimate Terrorists, her analysis of modern terrorism that trawls through the whole horror show, from bioweapons to bombs. * New Scientist *A balanced and blessedly concise examination of the potential for terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction. Written by a former fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations, this book was an early warning of the new threat. * Salon.com *Table of ContentsTerrorism Today Definitions Trojan Horses of the Body Getting and Using the Weapons Who Are the Terrorists? The Threat of Loose Nukes The State as Terrorist What Is to Be Done? Tables Notes Acknowledgments Index

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Book SynopsisA human rights lawyer travels to hot zones around the globe before and after 9/11 to document abuses by warlords, terrorists, and counterterrorism forces. John Sifton reminds us that human rights advocates can only shame the world into better behavior; to invoke rights is to invoke the force to uphold them, including the very violence they deplore.Trade Review[Sifton’s] book chronicles the common experience of human-rights monitors everywhere. At this level alone the book is of value. Too little has been written about human-rights field workers, and Sifton performs a service in describing this little-known or -understood professional world. Sifton’s book, however, seeks to go much further. His experiences have propelled him to confront the nature of violence and to question whether in its face human-rights work can have any utility. In his exploration of these issues he weaves a remarkable blend of storytelling, philosophical and theological reflection, history, literature, personal reminiscence and political science… Taken as separate essays, the chapters are usually riveting: elegantly written, informative and displaying an impressive breadth off learning… Sifton’s book stands as a thought-provoking reflection in which he stays true to his motivation to ‘produce something positive and somehow reverse the greater negative sign that violence represents.’ -- Michael O’Flaherty * Irish Times *Violence All Around by John Sifton is a thoughtful, well-written book that is made stronger through Sifton’s personal anecdotes, as well as his own research into the history of violence… This is a wide-ranging, ambitious work that examines the notion of violence from a panoply of angles… It seems safe to assume that acts of terrorism (and violence) aren’t going away anytime soon, but a degree of reflection seems to be in order. Sifton’s detailed examination of violence forces readers to think more deeply about this important issue. -- Taylor Dibbert * Huffington Post *[Sifton’s] book is well-written and provides rich descriptions of what happens before, during, and after violence… He wants his audience to think further, not only about an act of violence or its immediate perpetrator… The book not only illuminates the work of human rights advocacy groups; it seeks to engage human rights professionals with historical contradictions and diverse philosophies of violence and nonviolence… An important [book]. -- Jonathan Horowitz * Huffington Post *John Sifton travels through the post–9/11 war zones of Afghanistan and the Middle East and digs deep into our enduring love affair with lethal force. Violence All Around is a thought-provoking reflection on the human condition. -- Andrew North, BBC South Asia correspondent

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Book SynopsisThis is the definitive account of the career of Anwar al-Awlaki, the most influential Western exponent of violent jihad. Drawing on extensive research among al-Awlaki’s followers, including interviews with convicted terrorists, Alexander Meleagrou-Hitchens explains how the radical preacher established his network and why his message resonated.Trade ReviewMake no mistake, this is a very important book. The meticulously researched description of al-Awlaki’s ideology, his charisma, and his influence on a whole generation of Salafi jihadists should make this required reading for policymakers, practitioners, and academics alike. Anyone who is seriously interested in trying to understand what the future of global jihad might look like should pay very careful attention to the past, and I have seen no more coherent description nor compelling analysis than this. But beyond that, the very readability of this book should bring it to a wider audience. The narrative is incredibly powerful. -- Peter Clarke, former Head of Counter Terrorism at New Scotland Yard and UK National Co-ordinator of Terrorist Investigations, 2002–2008With forensic research and deep scholarship, Meleagrou-Hitchens traces the spiritual and political evolution of al-Qaeda’s most prominent recruiter of Westerners, the American preacher Anwar al-Awlaki. A major contribution to the study of religious violence. -- Scott Shane, author of Objective Troy and veteran New York Times national security reporterAnwar al-Awlaki was one of the foremost prophets of modern global terrorism…Incitement documents Awlaki’s journey through the ideological and political dynamics that have defined contemporary Islamism…The author reveals a figure shaped by both fundamental beliefs and shifting applications of them. -- Mardean Isaac * Times Literary Supplement *Jihadism is here; it’s not leaving anytime soon, and we need to understand it so we can better fight it…An outstanding book on the subject and has much to teach us on the nature of homegrown jihadism. -- David Patrikarakos * The Spectator *A fascinating analysis of the career of this most dangerously charismatic of fanatics…Meleagrou-Hitchens has provided an essential analysis of the career of one of jihad’s most successful devotees and enlightened us as to the broader nature of Islamic holy war…If you want to understand the nature of Islamic terrorism and its evolution, look no further…If we want to combat the ideology that leads to such violence, we must understand it. Incitement will be central to that understanding. -- Daniel James Sharp * Areo *A rigorous analysis of American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki’s influence on the global jihadist movement…[Meleagrou-Hitchens’s] lucid and deeply informed presentation reveals just how difficult it is to stamp out extremist ideologies once they’ve taken root. This sobering account makes a meaningful contribution to the study of terrorism. * Publishers Weekly *A fascinating insight into al-Awlaki’s personal ideological evolution and how he became so effective in communicating the Salafi-Jihadist message…You can’t help but see just why al-Awlaki was and remains so effective as a communicator and recruiter…Meleagrou-Hitchens is an excellent guide. -- Joshua Huminski * Diplomatic Courier *Illustrates the long tail of one ideological figure…Incitement shows how Awlaki…initiated a new departure in mass violence. -- Damien McElroy * The National *Incitement presents the most comprehensive and incisive analysis available of the American-born al-Qaeda ideologue and recruiter Anwar al-Awlaki. Meleagrou-Hitchens masterfully assesses al-Awlaki’s emergence as the ‘face of Western jihad’ during the War on Terror’s first decade and provides new insights regarding his messaging and recruitment methods, his impact, and his legacy. -- Bruce Hoffman, Georgetown University, author of Inside TerrorismA deep, insightful journey into one of the most extraordinary terrorist legacies ever witnessed. Incitement connects the dots between Western jihadism’s ‘Pied Piper’ and his far-flung devotees. Meleagrou-Hitchens’s brilliant analysis gives us an essential account that should be read by researchers and national security professionals alike. -- John Horgan, Distinguished University Professor, Psychology, Georgia State UniversityAnwar al-Awlaki continues to motivate, inspire, and activate young jihadists long after his death. Incitement illuminates the how and why of that process in a way that both academics and practitioners will find incredibly valuable. -- Nicholas J. Rasmussen, former Director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, 2014–2017Incitement is an authoritative and deeply researched account of the impact of the most important jihadist ideologue in the English-speaking world, the US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki. -- Peter Bergen, author of United States of Jihad: Who Are America’s Terrorists and How Do We Stop Them?Meleagrou-Hitchens…has spent the better part of a decade poring over Awlaki’s ideological production, interviewing his former acquaintances, and sifting through the historical record…The result is not only the definitive work on Awlaki, but an impressive text that marries the readability of a trade press biography and the analytical rigor of an academic monograph. -- Thomas Hegghammer * War on the Rocks *An excellent book about one of the most significant—and often misunderstood—terrorist propagandists of the modern day…While terrorism is often thought of and studied as a collective phenomenon, this book shows the significant and enduring role the individual can have. It is a lesson that deserves to be well heeded. -- Stephen Nemeth * American Religion *

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Book SynopsisA comparative survey of guerrilla movements in Latin America, this title explores the origins and outcomes of rural insurgencies in nearly a dozen cases since 1956. Focusing on the personal backgrounds of the guerrillas themselves and on national social conditions, it explains why guerrillas emerged strongly in certain countries but not others.Trade Review"[This book] represents the first real attempt to bring together Latin American case studies and sociological theories of revolution. It provides a useful framework for students seeking to compare the Latin American guerrilla experiences. Wickham-Crowley has produced a persuasive corrective to the views of those who have underestimated the importance of peasant support for guerrillas and overestimated the value of international support--either for the guerrillas or for their opponents."--Richard Gillespie, The Times Higher Education Supplement

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Book SynopsisPicks apart the intellectual design and ambitions of the neoconservative American foreign policy. This book draws on the contrary visions of Hobbes, Kant, Max Weber, Hannah Arendt, and Isaiah Berlin in order to disclose the contours of conflict in the age of geo-civil war, and to illuminate the challenges and risks of contemporary democracy.Trade Review"Philosophers and policy experts often look for answers by drawing strong conceptual oppositions. The Cultural Contradictions of Democracy, however, shows the shared dilemmas of writers who may themselves think they have nothing in common. This book-length essay tries to make sense of these philosophical and political contradictions by seeing them as necessary tensions in our attempts to reconcile competing values. For Brenkman, the contradictions of our political discourse reveal aspirations for freedom and democracy, for liberty and community. When we strive for freedom, we must learn to live with contradictions...Brenkman is that rare academic who can write well about both contemporary political practice and theory. His description of how the Bush administration was seized by power is insightful, and his critique of contemporary theory star Giorgio Agamben is concise and compelling."--Michael Roth, San Francisco ChronicleTable of ContentsIntroduction: Political Thought in the Fog of War 1 War and Democracy 1 Hobbes versus Kant? 4 Leviathan 6 The Neoconservative Illusion 9 The Frailty of Human Affairs 12 Crises of the Republic 14 The Argument 19 Seized by Power 24 Death and the Governor of Texas 24 The New American Exceptionalism 28 The Cold Warrior Myth 34 Kant with Arendt 37 Targeting Iraq 41 Al Qaeda and Ultimate Ends 43 A Grammar of Motives 46 The Imagination of Power 51 State of Exception 51 Arendt versus Agamben 55 Schmitt and Hobbes 59 Decision and Covenant 64 The Ordeal of Universalism 71 September 11 and Fables of the Left 78 First Response 78 Multilateral Ambivalence 81 Terrorism as Symptom 84 Chomskian Certitudes 87 Hardt and Negri's Empire 94 The Multitude and Prophecy 98 Iraq: Delirium of War, Delusions of Peace 103 The Idealism of Means 103 The Idealism of Ends 106 Neither Left nor Right 110 The Atlantic Misalliance 117 Diplomatic Intrigues and Political Truths 122 Repudiations of the UN Left and Right 126 The Hobbesian Nightmare: Occupied Iraq 131 The Ordeal of Universalism 137 Democracy and War 137 Postnational Cosmopolitanism versus Liberal Nationalism? 141 Kant with Hobbes 144 Habermas's Agon with Schmitt 146 Hobbes with Kant 152 Europe, or, the Empire of Rights 157 Islam's Geo-Civil War 165 Global Neoliberal Religious Conservatism? 170 No Exit 177 Conclusion: Prelude to the Unknown 182 Ideas and Errors 182 Arendt with Berlin 183 Liberty without Democracy versus Democracy without Liberty? 188 Democratic Striving and Sectarian Mobilization 191 Untimely Meditation 195 Index 201

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Book SynopsisProvides an examination of the intelligence failures that preceded September 11. This work shows how and why the intelligence system itself left us vulnerable. It argues that after the Cold War ended, the CIA and FBI failed to adapt to the rise of terrorism.Trade ReviewCo-Winner of the 2008 Louis Brownlow Award, National Academy of Public Administration "Ever since the end of the cold war, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Security Agency, and more than a dozen other intelligence organizations that answer to the president had been struggling to adapt their sources and methods to the new menace. As Amy B. Zegart argues in Spying Blind, they just weren't up to the job... Zegart, blaming institutional inertia more than individuals, counts more than 20 specific instances where the CIA or the FBI missed chances to stop the 9/11 attacks."--Christopher Dickey, Newsweek "Don't be fooled by the title of this book. It sounds as if the author is going to tread the same turf as Richard Clarke, Tim Weiner, Bob Woodward and a host of others, including the 9/11 Commission Report, but Amy Zegart in Spying Blind goes several steps beyond her predecessors... Zegart presents the facts behind this state of affairs in a more scholarly way than we've previously seen, by examining over 300 intelligence reform recommendations and by tracing the history of CIA and FBI counter-terrorism efforts from 1991 to 2001. ... Spying Blind provides a clear and comprehensive overview of a dire situation -- the kind of knowledge that comes in handy when you call or write your congressman or, for that matter, when you vote."--Mary Welp, The Courier-Journal "Zegart argues that any meaningful improvement in U.S. intelligence coordination and effectiveness will require the president and Congress to take on the Defense Department... Spying Blind is a thorough examination of those reform failures. In it, Zegart sifts through hundreds of intelligence recommendations...and findings by the 9/11 Commission and congressional committees."--David J. Garrow, Wilson Quarterly "One of the many strengths of Zegart's book is that she examines not only current problems in the intelligence services but past efforts to correct them."--Simon Chesterman, Survival "Amy B. Zegart is one of the most talented young scholars in the field of intelligence studies. She has a flair for empirical research... [T]his highly readable and well-documented book is commendable for its exhaustive research and lucid writing style."--Loch K. Johnson, Political Science Quarterly "This is a well-written and informed book that should become part of the post-9/11 debate on intelligence agencies and their adaptation to the new world that opened up on that day... This is all excellent book, with detailed research, and a highly readable presentation of absorbing analysis."--Alan Warburton, International History Review "Spying Blind adds a valuable empirical study to the literature on understanding culture and bureaucratic processes in foreign policy decision-making."--Peter Hough, European LegacyTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xiii CHAPTER ONE: An Organizational View of 9/11 1 CHAPTER TWO: Canaries in the Coal Mine: The Case for Failed Adaptation 15 CHAPTER THREE: Crossing an Academic No-Man's Land: Explaining Failed Adaptation 43 CHAPTER FOUR: Fighting Osama One Bureaucrat at a Time: Adaptation Failure in the CIA 61 CHAPTER FIVE: Signals Found and Lost: The CIA and 9/11 101 CHAPTER SIX: Real Men Don't Type: Adaptation Failure in the FBI 120 CHAPTER SEVEN: Evidence Teams at the Ready: The FBI and 9/11 156 CHAPTER EIGHT: The More Things Change ... 169 APPENDIX: Intelligence Reform Catalog Methodology 199 Notes 203 References 273 Index 309

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Book SynopsisThe violent actions of a few extremists can alter the course of history, yet there persists a yawning gap between the potential impact of these individuals and what we understand about them. In Engineers of Jihad, Diego Gambetta and Steffen Hertog uncover two unexpected facts, which they imaginatively leverage to narrow that gap: they find that a dTrade ReviewOne of Foreign Affairs' Best Books on the Middle East (Terrorism & Counterterrorism) 2016 "This is an important study... The wealth of statistical data they bring to bear provides what was once a hypothesis with solid empirical grounding."--Malise Ruthven, Financial Times "[A]n interesting and important book... Definitely recommended."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "That's really good work, and they deserve credit for that observation... It is thrilling and intriguing as a theoretical issue."--Jeffrey I. Victoroff, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Chronicle of Higher Education "Wonderful."--Jacob N. Shapiro, Princeton University, Chronicle of Higher Education "[They] really help us refine our understanding of what the risk factors are."--Jessica Stern, Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies, Chronicle of Higher Education "Data-driven and carefully constructed."--John Waterbury, Foreign Affairs "Intriguing... There's a clear need to try and understand the motivation for this breed of terrorism that Gambetta and Hertog address in a thorough way that avoids alarmism."--Dominic Lenton, Engineering & Technology "Opening up markedly new perspectives on the motivations of political violence, Engineers of Jihad yields unexpected answers about the nature and emergence of extremism."--Islam and Muslim Societies "This relatively small book breaks significant new ground and should generate many more significant studies in this area. It should prove to be an important waystation on the path to better understanding not only of violent Islamism but of other political and politico-religious phenomena. It deserves a wide readership among those seriously interested in these subjects."--William Shepard, Journal of Global AnalysisTable of ContentsPreface vii 1. The Education of Islamist Extremists 1 At the Origins 3 A Systematic Test 6 The Saudi Exception 19 Selection Effects 21 Conclusions 32 2. Relative Deprivation in the Islamic World 34 Frustrated Ambitions and Relative Deprivation 34 Beyond Egypt 38 Are Engineers Especially Deprived? 42 The Saudi Exception Again 52 Conclusions, and Facts That Do Not Fit 54 3. Relative Deprivation Probed 60 Western-Based Jihadis 60 Violent vs. Nonviolent Opposition 72 Religious vs. Secular Militants 76 Die-hard Militants vs. Defectors 80 Conclusions 83 4. The Ideology of Islamist Extremism Compared 85 Historical Links 86 Shared Values 88 Shared Tastes and Beliefs 90 Radical Ideologies Compared 94 Conclusions 98 5. The Education of Other Extremists 100 Left-wing Extremists 101 Right-wing Extremists 106 Are the Dividing Lines Robust? 113 Extremists Compared: Islamists, Leftists, and Rightists 120 Conclusions and Summary So Far 125 6. Mind-sets for Extremists 128 Traits for Types of Extremists 129 The Three Traits among Graduates 134 Enter Women 141 One More Trait: "Simplism" 146 Traits and Disciplines 150 Conclusions 154 7. Conclusions 159 Bibliography 167 Index 185

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Book SynopsisLooking at how emergencies in the past and present have shaped the development of democracy, the author argues that democracies must resist emergency's pull to focus on life's necessities (food, security, and bare essentials) because these tend to privatize and isolate citizens rather than bring us together on behalf of hopeful futures.Trade ReviewCo-Winner of the 2012 David Easton Award, Foundations of Political Theory Section of the American Political Science Association "[A] remarkable book... Honig's careful work enriches our understanding of democratic politics."--William Corlett, Law and Politics Book Review "Creatively engaging with many debates in democratic theory, [Honig] is at her best reinterpreting unconventional texts like biblical parables or the legal history of the Red Scare."--Choice "Emergency Politics nicely combines theory with insightful analyses of historical and contemporary events... This is a timely and important book that should be read by anyone interested in the current state of democratic theory and practice. It is a cogent argument for an agonistic conception of democracy, based on insightful theoretical and empirical analyses."--Lasse Thomassen, Journal of PoliticsTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Preface xv Introduction: Surviving 1 Chapter One: Beginnings 12 Chapter Two: Emergence 40 Chapter Three: Decision 65 Chapter Four: Orientation 87 Chapter Five: Proximity 112 Aftermath 139 Notes 143 Bibliography 181 Index 193

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Philosophers and policy experts often look for answers by drawing strong conceptual oppositions. The Cultural Contradictions of Democracy, however, shows the shared dilemmas of writers who may themselves think they have nothing in common. This book-length essay tries to make sense of these philosophical and political contradictions by seeing them as necessary tensions in our attempts to reconcile competing values. For Brenkman, the contradictions of our political discourse reveal aspirations for freedom and democracy, for liberty and community. When we strive for freedom, we must learn to live with contradictions...Brenkman is that rare academic who can write well about both contemporary political practice and theory. His description of how the Bush administration was seized by power is insightful, and his critique of contemporary theory star Giorgio Agamben is concise and compelling."--Michael Roth, San Francisco ChronicleTable of ContentsIntroduction: Political Thought in the Fog of War 1 War and Democracy 1 Hobbes versus Kant? 4 Leviathan 6 The Neoconservative Illusion 9 The Frailty of Human Affairs 12 Crises of the Republic 14 The Argument 19 Seized by Power 24 Death and the Governor of Texas 24 The New American Exceptionalism 28 The Cold Warrior Myth 34 Kant with Arendt 37 Targeting Iraq 41 Al Qaeda and Ultimate Ends 43 A Grammar of Motives 46 The Imagination of Power 51 State of Exception 51 Arendt versus Agamben 55 Schmitt and Hobbes 59 Decision and Covenant 64 The Ordeal of Universalism 71 September 11 and Fables of the Left 78 First Response 78 Multilateral Ambivalence 81 Terrorism as Symptom 84 Chomskian Certitudes 87 Hardt and Negri's Empire 94 The Multitude and Prophecy 98 Iraq: Delirium of War, Delusions of Peace 103 The Idealism of Means 103 The Idealism of Ends 106 Neither Left nor Right 110 The Atlantic Misalliance 117 Diplomatic Intrigues and Political Truths 122 Repudiations of the UN Left and Right 126 The Hobbesian Nightmare: Occupied Iraq 131 The Ordeal of Universalism 137 Democracy and War 137 Postnational Cosmopolitanism versus Liberal Nationalism? 141 Kant with Hobbes 144 Habermas's Agon with Schmitt 146 Hobbes with Kant 152 Europe, or, the Empire of Rights 157 Islam's Geo-Civil War 165 Global Neoliberal Religious Conservatism? 170 No Exit 177 Conclusion: Prelude to the Unknown 182 Ideas and Errors 182 Arendt with Berlin 183 Liberty without Democracy versus Democracy without Liberty? 188 Democratic Striving and Sectarian Mobilization 191 Untimely Meditation 195 Index 201

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Foreign Affairs' Picks for Best of Books 2018""A highly useful, timely, illuminating work about a little-understood terrorist group." * Kirkus *"Thurston’s Boko Haram is lucid, nuanced and authoritative. It is candid about the many remaining uncertainties in the group’s story, and navigates these gaps adeptly, urging that the Nigerian government should politically engage with Boko Haram."---Azadeh Moaveni, Times Literary Supplement"Remarkable. . . . [Thurston] breaks from the prevailing narrative that Boko Haram emerged solely because of the poor governance, poverty, and economic misfortune in Nigeria’s northeast. Instead, Thurston appropriately places religion, and specifically the interaction of religion and localized politics, at the center of his thesis."---Sam Wilkins, War on the Rocks"Absorbing."---Robert Fulford, National Post"A number of solid journalistic accounts of the rise of Boko Haram have appeared in recent years, but Thurston’s scholarly works stands out and deserves a wide readership. It offers an authoritative take on the group’s murky origins and wisely situates its rise within the context of Nigerian political history."---Nicolas van de Walle, Foreign Affairs"Thurston’s account of Boko Haram’s rise and how it ‘interacted dynamically with the political dysfunction and economic malaise that surrounded it’ is key to understanding its survival."---Siona Jenkins, Financial Times"Thurston’s text is . . . a must for anybody interested in Nigeria’s recent past as well as the dynamics of political and religious development in the larger West African religion."---Roman Loimeier, Africa Spectrum"We now have what may well become the definitive work on the group in the form of Alexander Thurston’s superbly detailed new book. . . . Thurston convincingly debunks theories of Boko Haram that would deny its uniquely Nigerian nature . . . [and] sets straight those who think Boko Haram is primarily an extension of jihadist operations from elsewhere."---James H. Barnett, The Weekly Standard"Boko Haram: The History of an African Jihadist Movement supersedes everything that has been written so far on the development of this enigmatic jihadist movement in northeastern Nigeria. Based on years of research in Northern Nigeria as well as his knowledge of a vast number of primary sources in both Arabic and Hausa, Thurston is able to present a highly convincing account of the historical development of this jihadist movement."---Roman Loimeier, Africa Spectrum"A welcome addition to our knowledge of terrorist organizations. . . . As balanced and comprehensive a treatment of Boko Haram as we are likely to see for many years."---Robert L. Tignor, Michigan War Studies Review"Thurston’s book represents one of the most important contributions to the field."---Brandon Kendhammer, Bustan"Thurston has written an immensely valuable documentary history of Boko Haram. The text is concise, well-focused and thoroughly readable, and provides us with essential understandings of this doctrinal movement and its bloody outcomes. . . Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the roots of this insurgency."---Scott MacEachern, Islamic Africa

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Book SynopsisTrade Review2017 Gold Medal Winner in Current Events (Political/Economic/Foreign Affairs), Independent Publisher Book Awards A CNN Fareed Zakaria GPS Book of the Week, August 7, 2016 One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2016 One of Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Books of 2016 in Current Affairs Honorable Mention for the 2017 PROSE Award in Government and Politics, Association of American Publishers "Well-researched and lucidly argued."--Malise Ruthven, New York Review of Books "A specific, timely, well-rendered exegesis of the unfolding global threat."--Kirkus (starred review) "This timely history gives a clear-sighted account of the ascent of the so-called Islamic State (IS)--one with far-reaching implications. The book's findings and conclusions have profound relevance... Written and edited with pellucid clarity, ISIS: A History is an important book that will have broad appeal."--Chris Harmer, LSE Review of Books "[Written] with energy and clarity, and out of uncommonly extensive knowledge."--Robert Fulford, National Post "[Gerges's] argument is all at once persuasive, deeply depressing, yet hopeful."--Daniel Flitton, Sydney Morning Herald "Perhaps the most informative, clearly expressed, sober book on the subject."--William Armstrong, Hurriyet Daily News "[Gerges's] book is one of the most coherent, comprehensive and persuasive histories of ISIS to date and deserves to be widely read."--Richard Cockett, Literary Review "[The book's] strength stems from the sheer breadth of the survey offered by Gerges."--Shiraz Maher, New Statesman "Gerges is clear, and it is here that the book excels, that Isis cannot be explained in isolation but must be examined in the larger sociopolitical context in which it emerged... ISIS: A History makes a welcome contribution to the debate, and will be of interest to both general readers and specialists."--Christina Hellmich, Times Higher Education "This is quite simply the definitive book on the group by a very smart, well-informed guide to the region, superbly researched, well-written and intelligent throughout. Everyone opining about ISIS should be required to read this book first."--Fareed Zakaria, CNN Global Public Square "The achievement of Fawaz Gerges... in his compelling, insightful book is to highlight the social and sectarian pressures that led so many Iraqi and Syrian Sunnis to turn to Isis as protectors."--Michael Burleigh, Times "Terrific."--Michael Brull, New Matilda "This is a comprehensive account of how ISIS emerged in the Middle East, triggered by the US invasion of Iraq, Syria's civil war, the collapse of the Arab Spring, and sectarian Sunni-Shi'a struggles. Gerges systematically details the complex social and political dynamics leading to ISIS's prominence among the Salafi-jihadist family of rivals... This authoritative, empirically rich study based on primary Arabic sources should be must reading for policy makers, strategists, scholars, journalists, students, and anyone seriously concerned about the human condition."--Choice "Gerges has made an important contribution to the burgeoning literature on ISIS."--Michael Degerald, Middle East Policy "This hugely important study is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the powerful political, sectarian and religious forces currently convulsing the Arab Middle East."--P. D. Smith, The GuardianTable of ContentsPreface to the Paperback Edition ix Acknowledgments xv Introduction: Down the Rabbit Hole and into the History of ISIS 1 1 The World According to ISIS 23 2 Where ISIS Came From: Zarqawi to Baghdadi 50 3 How Broken Iraqi Politics Fueled the Revival of ISIS 98 4 Baghdadi's Evolution: From Invisible to Infamous 129 5 Baathists and ISIS Jihadists: Who Converted Whom? 144 6 How the Syrian War Empowered ISIS 170 7 Misappropriating the Arab Spring Uprisings 202 8 ISIS versus Al Qaeda: Redefining Jihad and the Transition from the Global to the Local 222 Conclusion: The Future of ISIS 260 Notes 295 Index 353

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of Foreign Affairs' Best Books on the Middle East (Terrorism & Counterterrorism) 2016 "This is an important study... The wealth of statistical data they bring to bear provides what was once a hypothesis with solid empirical grounding."--Malise Ruthven, Financial Times "[A]n interesting and important book... Definitely recommended."--Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution "That's really good work, and they deserve credit for that observation... It is thrilling and intriguing as a theoretical issue."--Jeffrey I. Victoroff, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Chronicle of Higher Education "Wonderful."--Jacob N. Shapiro, Princeton University, Chronicle of Higher Education "[They] really help us refine our understanding of what the risk factors are."--Jessica Stern, Boston University Pardee School of Global Studies, Chronicle of Higher Education "Data-driven and carefully constructed."--John Waterbury, Foreign Affairs "Intriguing... There's a clear need to try and understand the motivation for this breed of terrorism that Gambetta and Hertog address in a thorough way that avoids alarmism."--Dominic Lenton, Engineering & Technology "Opening up markedly new perspectives on the motivations of political violence, Engineers of Jihad yields unexpected answers about the nature and emergence of extremism."--Islam and Muslim Societies "This relatively small book breaks significant new ground and should generate many more significant studies in this area. It should prove to be an important waystation on the path to better understanding not only of violent Islamism but of other political and politico-religious phenomena. It deserves a wide readership among those seriously interested in these subjects."--William Shepard, Journal of Global Analysis

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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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