Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of English.

Teaching Methods

Seminars are organized to encourage students’ active involvement in learning, fostering student-teacher and student-student debate. Following the historical and conceptual contextualisation of the terrorism and counterterrorism phenomena, students are expected to actively participate. This involves carefully reading, watching and preparing oral and written comments to case studies explored in order to contribute to a productive class discussion and reflection.

Learning Outcomes

• Acquire a solid knowledge of key theoretical and empirical developments in the literature on terrorism and counterterrorism.

• Develop the ability to think critically and originally about fundamental concepts in the field of terrorism and counterterrorism studies.

• Develop the ability to engage critically with the literature, providing comments, critiquing established explanations, and proposing additional, original perspectives and hypotheses.

• Develop and/or strengthen in-class participation and discussion skills.

• Develop and strengthen analytical writing skills, in particular by producing a piece of independent work that is intended to show an intention to understand material for oneself, vigorous and critical interaction with the content (both theoretical and empirical), as well as the capacity to relate ideas to one's previous knowledge and experience.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction: What is terrorism?

2. The study of terrorism: Orthodox and critical approaches

3. Cultural constructions of terrorism

4. Types of terrorism

5. Counter-terrorism strategies and impacts

6. Radicalisation, counter-radicalisation and prevention of radicalisation

8. Gender and terrorism

8. The global war on terrorism: A reflection.

Head Lecturer(s)

Raquel Beleza Pereira da Silva

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Periodic or by final exam as given in the course information: 100.0%

Bibliography

Jackson, R., ed. (2016) Routledge Handbook of Critical Terrorism Studies. Abingdon: Routledge

Jackson, R., and Pisiou, D., eds. (2018) Contemporary Debates on Terrorism (2nd edition). Abingdon: Routledge

della Porta, D. (2013) Clandestine political violence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

da Silva, R. (2019) Narratives of political violence: life stories of former militants. London: Routledge.

da Silva, R. and Martini, A. (2021). How has 9/11 changed the field of Critical Terrorism Studies? Main debates and theoretical advancements. Locus: Revista de História. DOI: 10.34019/2594-8296.2021.v27.33772

Zulaika, J., and Douglass, W., 1996. Terror and Taboo: The Follies, Fables, and Faces of Terrorism, London: Routledge.