Terrorism, Insurgency, and Political Violence

Terrorism, insurgency, and political violence are unfortunately all around us. Whether its the targeting of elected officials in the U.S. or the killing of civilians in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, or ongoing civil wars in Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, violence by and against non-state actors is the most common form of conflict in the 21st century. Are terrorism and political violence inventions from the modern era, or do they have a deeper past? What drives an individual to join an armed group? Why do some groups choose to employ violence, while others do not? Are terrorism and insurgency effective political tactics? Just how significant is the threat of terrorism to you and to others around the world? This course will address these and other questions, while introducing students to relevant analytical frameworks, theories, and cases concerning terrorism, insurgency, and related forms of political violence.In addition to its topical focus, this course could rightly be called a methods course. Students in the class will learn how to improve their analytical thinking, conduct high quality research, and present an effective argument, both orally and in writing. They will learn the potential and pitfalls of theories of political violence through constant analysis and engagement with the history of terrorism and insurgency. By the conclusion of the course, students will emerge not only with a far richer understanding of these issues, but also as more sophisticated consumers, analysts, and producers of knowledge.