BSS201 International Terrorism

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2007
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Anar Mahamad Valiyev, Ph.D. (lecturer), prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Timetable
Thu 10:00–11:40 U33
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 17 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
This course aims to examine the factors that drive individuals and political groups to acts of terrorism and political violence. It emphasizes the difficulties of defining terrorism. The primary objective of this course will be to move beyond the media framing of terrorism as an attack against “our democracy” and draw attention to different background factors in understanding terrorist behavior. The course will offer a comparative study of a variety of cases that cut across religious affiliation and geography. Furthermore, the course will try to evaluate how policy makers and scholars approach the problem of terrorism. In our class discussions, we will identify and discuss the following: 1. Problems of defining terrorism as well as the theoretical writings on political violence and terrorism; 2. Distinctions between terrorism, political violence and revolutionary warfare, with an emphasis on the legitimacy potential (or lack thereof) for terrorist groups; 3. The nature of the threat posed by political violence and terrorism; religious, national-separatist, state and other forms of terrorism; the interlaced relationship between terrorism and the media; the role of the international legal system; multilateral responses to the threat; implications of these developments for both vulnerabilities and responses to political violence and terrorism.
Syllabus
  • REQUIRED TEXTS: Jonathan R. White, Terrorism and Homeland Security. Thomson Wadsworth, Belmont, CA 2005 fifth edition. (JRW) List of articles or book chapters (will be provided by instructor): Walter Laqueur, Postmodern terrorism, Foreign Affairs, September/October 1996 Walter Laqueur, The New Terrorism, State Terrorism, pp 156-184 Walter Laqueur, The New Terrorism, Terrorism of the Future, pp 254-282 Rohan Gunaratna, Inside Al Qaeda, Chapter 2, Al Qaeda’s Organization, Ideology and Strategy, 2002 Jamie Dettmer, “Supplying Terrorists Oxygen of Publicity,” Insight, July 15, 2002 David Rapoport, “The Fourth Wave: September 11 in the History of Terrorism,” Current History, December 2001
Assessment methods (in Czech)
Grades are based on the requirements below; each must be fulfilled for a passing grade and final grades will be based on standard scoring (explained in the detailed syllabus at the beginning of the term). 1) Attendance and Class Discussions (10%); 2) Midterm exam (30%); 3) Final Exam (30%) 4) Final paper (30%) Attendance and Discussions: Students are required to attend class and should recognize that opportunities for participation points are lost with each unexcused absence. They also are encouraged to actively participate in discussions at every class. 10% of the grade depends on attendance and participation in class discussions Midterm Exam will comprise two short and three long essay questions. Essays will be graded based on your critical thinking and writing skills, as well as your ability to link several different ideas together in an innovative way. Final Exam will comprise two short and three long essay questions. Essays will be graded based on your critical thinking and writing skills, as well as your ability to link several different ideas together in an innovative way. Final Paper: An analytic final paper, approximately 12-15 pages in length will be due on the last day of class. Choice of topic is open, contingent upon approval by the instructor. The paper will, ideally, spring from one of the readings. One possibility for the paper would be to examine a terrorist group as a touchstone against which to evaluate the conceptual issues and debates raised in the class sessions. The questions of the topic could be follow: a) What affect does the use of state violence/terror have on the formation, duration, or behavior of terrorist groups? (Your two cases should be groups from different states)’ b) Do the tactics employed by terrorist groups correspond with their objectives? What is the future of religious/national-separatist/leftist terrorism? What is the future of U.S. domestic terrorism? Students may address a different question, but should check with me before proceeding. Late papers: Late papers will be penalized one-tenth of a grade for each day they are late, unless an official excuse is provided. Students should keep a copy of all work until the instructor returns those materials with a grade. In addition, all materials should be kept until final grades are processed.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Pro studenty bakalářského studia bezpečnostních a strategických studií bez omezení, pro studenty politologie je podmínkou absolutorium POL 104, pro studenty mezinárodních vztahů je podmínkou absolutorium MVE 101. O zápisu studentů jiných oborů rozhoduje
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