Inside Terrorism |
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Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
Bruce Hoffman's Inside Terrorism has remained a seminal work for understanding the historical evolution of terrorism and the terrorist mindset. In this revised edition of the classic text, Hoffman analyzes the new adversaries, motivations, and tactics of global terrorism that have emerged in recent years, focusing specifically on how al Qaeda has changed since 9/11; the reasons behind its resiliency, resonance, and longevity; and its successful use of the Internet and videotapes to build public support and gain new recruits. Hoffman broadens the discussion by evaluating the potential repercussions of the Iraqi insurgency, the use of suicide bombers, terrorist exploitation of new communications media, and the likelihood of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear terrorist strike. Closer to home, Hoffman reconsiders the Timothy McVeigh case and the threats posed by American Christian white supremacists and abortion opponents as well as those posed by militant environmentalists and animal rights activists. He argues that the attacks on the World Trade Center fundamentally transformed the West's view of the terrorist threat. More relevant and necessary than ever, Inside Terrorism continues to be the definitive work on the history and future of global terrorism.
Amazon.com Review
The word "terrorism" first became popular during the French Revolution, when the régime de la terreur was initially viewed as a positive political system that used fear to remind citizens of the necessity of virtue. The use of violence to "educate" people about ideological issues has continued, but it has taken on decidedly negative connotations--and has become predominantly, though not exclusively, a tactic deployed by those who do not have the powers of state at their disposal. Bruce Hoffman, the director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence, has written a clear summary of some of the major historical trends in international terrorism. He makes careful distinctions between the motivations that drive political (or ethno-nationalist) terrorism and religious terrorism, and he also shows why the rise of religious terrorism, coupled with the increased availability of weapons of mass destruction, may foretell an era of even greater violence. In the past, Hoffman argues, the main goal of the terrorist was not to kill, but to attract media attention to his cause in the hope of initiating reform. "For the religious terrorist," however, "violence is first and foremost a sacramental act or divine duty executed in direct response to some theological demand or imperative ... religious terrorists see themselves not as components of a system worth preserving but as 'outsiders,' seeking fundamental changes in the existing order." Hoffman does not "choose sides" in this framework, pointing to the bombings of the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City and to the sarin nerve gas attacks in Tokyo in order to demonstrate that fundamentalists of any religious denomination are capable of extreme acts of terrorism.
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Customer Reviews:
• Not Too Shabby
09 February, 2010
Hoffman does his best to not only define terrorism but provide timely information in an unbiased manner. This book is my textbook for my college Crime and Terrorism class. This has become an extremely useful tool and would recommend that it be read to better understand the psychology of terrorists and the concept of terrorism.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Excellent Introduction For Experts But Terrorism Is A Problem For Citizens
12 December, 2008
This is an excellent book for understanding a particular type of terrorism -- extreme violence by radical groups like Al Qaeda, the PLO, white supremacists, Basque separatists, and others in which the purpose of violent attacks is to gain media attention as a way to advance a political agenda. Hoffman suggests terrorism is sometimes effective if the violence resonates with an aggrieved group, but he notes that the media effect is often mixed because most people are opposed to killing and destruction. And he makes a case that for most terrorist groups operate under a long term disadvantage. His thorough treatment covers a broad spectrum of groups while being fair and unbiased despite the pejorative term "terrorism". And he offers an intelligent exploration of this term itself.
My problem with Mr. Hoffman's analysis, however, is that he sees terrorism as violent politically-motivated crime by extremists seeking publicity. In contrast, I think of terrorism as "violence against individual rights" in which a "right" is a power to act in the future which others acknowledge beforehand. Hoffman sees terrorism as a type of crime; in contrast, I see crime as a type of terrorism. It's a different way of looking at the problem. I think terrorism is a much broader problem encompassing three types -- crime, tyranny, and foreign terrorism. Hoffman's ultimate terrorist might be Osama bin Laden; mine is Hitler. I think issues like media attention and political purpose should be largely irrelevant in understanding terrorism.
Getting the definition right is important in my view because it affects how we fight and prevent terrorism. Experts like Mr. Hoffman generally see terrorism as a problem for governments and police forces and paramilitary forces, and he advises government officials on how to fight such radicals. In contrast, I think our own government can sometimes become the terrorist when trying to fight terrorism. So I think Hoffman is attacking only one part of a triangular problem. I think we have to prevent all three types of terrorism.
For example, government fights air piracy by frisking every airline passenger. It's trying to prevent one type of terrorism (air piracy) by committing another (tyranny against citizens). Government treats us like criminals about to steal or blow up an airplane without specific evidence, and this violates the idea of presumption of innocence. The Constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, but these rules have been violated. Passengers consent to this frisking because we think it's necessary to safeguard everybody and we don't think there are better ways, but I think there are much better strategies than frisking (although I usually enjoy being frisked by guards of the opposite sex).
Frisking may sound like a reasonable violation of our rights, but consider how government has tried to fight terrorism. It reads our e-mails. It wiretaps our phones. It studies our internet search histories. This is essentially espionage on private citizens with few safeguards for privacy. It's a pattern with democracies that when attacked by radical groups, they metamorphose into more authoritarian regimes (examples include Chile under Pinochet, Philippines under Marcos), and government usually wins its war while citizens suffer from curfews, loss of privacy, confiscations of property and so forth.
What I'm saying is that the problem of terrorism is much bigger, but solvable. In my book "Common Sense II: How to Prevent the Three Types of Terrorism" (Amazon) I advocate a tough highly controversial strategy which can even prevent smuggled nuclear bombs but the changes I propose are so substantial that they require a Second Constitutional Convention. People must act like real citizens, not apathetic political zombies like most Americans today, and protect other citizens when government becomes tyrannical, and I show how this can happen. And my method will thwart extremist groups much more effectively than any method Mr. Hoffman proposes and I challenge him to debate the merits of my strategy.
Hoffman's book is an excellent guide for people who like the current arrangement and believe government is doing a good job in fighting its war on terrorism. It's an intelligent introduction to a complex subject for specialists. He deserves commendation for shedding light on one part of a complex problem. However, I urge readers to become their own experts on the subject, to become real citizens, to make up their own minds about how to fight and prevent terrorism. After all, aren't we the ones who suffer when it happens?
- Amazon Customer Review
• A Fine Overview
30 November, 2008
This is a well written and informative introduction to the world of terrorism. Due to the vastness and diversity of the subject it is difficult to really explore one facet of terrorism completely without making the work so long and detailed you lose your audience. In this book, the author doesn't delve too deeply into any one specific area but rather gives a good, concise overview of the recent history of terrorism and the groups who practice it. This is a great jumping off point for anyone interested in studying the topic more closely.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Just As Promised
02 February, 2009
I purchased this book for school and it came in great condition for a great price.
- Amazon Customer Review
• Inside Terrorism
26 August, 2009
Inside Terrorism is perhaps the only book on the subject that covered so much. Though has space to update is require reading for the topic.
- Amazon Customer Review
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