Homeland
Security and Emergency Preparedness 301 (POLI 367/CRJS 367)
Terrorism
Spring
2008
Bill
Newmann
Office
Hours: Monday and Wednesday 1-2:30 and by appointment; Scherer Hall 301B.
Phone:
Office: 828-8038
e-mail: wnewmann@mail1.vcu.edu
Newmann's
home page: http://www.people.vcu.edu/~wnewmann/index.htm
with links to other Newmann syllabi and the International and Area Studies
Program description.
Introduction
We will start from the basics. What is terrorism? How
long has it been with us? Why do people become terrorists? The answers may be a
bit surprising. Watching the American media deal with the attacks has only
clouded the issue. Too many people have decided that they are experts in
international relations and terrorism because they saw the Trade Centers fall.
Terrorism has a long history going back at least to Jewish resistance against
Roman occupation of the
Once we have tried to define terrorism, we will
examine its long history. Then we will
look at a number of key issues:
·
State-sponsored
terrorism (
·
Al-Qaeda’s
strategy, organization, and recruitment policies
·
The misconceptions
regarding the relationship between Islam and terrorism. Islam is a peaceful
religion; terrorist organizations have political motives and pervert the
meaning of Islam to justify their violence and gather recruits from a candidate
pool of the poor, the criminal, the ignorant, and the lost.
·
The relationship
between poverty, authoritarian governments and terrorism
·
The relationship
between religion and terrorism
·
Domestic
terrorism in the
·
Terrorist use of
the internet
·
Counterterrorism
policies
·
The nightmare
scenarios of biological, chemical, nuclear, and ballistic missile attacks.
Of
course, the war on terrorism is not only an academic subject. We will be
discussing current events as they happen. So stay on top of the situation. Read
The New York Times or Washington Post for the best coverage on a
day by day basis and check out all the websites I have listed below to learn
more.
Links
that may be of interest
Links
to sources on Terrorism and
Homeland Security
Links
to sources on Biological
and Chemical weapons
Links
to sources on nuclear
weapons, ballistic missiles, and missile defense
Texts:
You
need to read them; you don't need to buy them. The books are available at the
Virginia Book Company on
·
Bruce Hoffman. Inside Terrorism. (
·
Jason Burke. Al-Qaeda. (
·
Jessica Stern. Terror in the Name of God. (
·
Gabriel
Weimann. Terror on the Internet (
·
Yonah Alexander,
ed. Counterterrorism Strategies (
If
you have any problems getting the readings for any reason, talk to me as soon
as possible so you don't get behind in the reading. A guideline for the readings:
I've tried to pick reading that are fair minded and balanced. There are too
many books and articles out there that border on hysteria on all these issues
and too many people who suddenly became terrorism experts on the afternoon of
September 11. I’ve picked books written by people who have been studying
terrorism long before September 11. That
doesn't mean that these books don't have a point of view. They do, but it is a
point of view based on knowledge and years of study and a point of view that is
reasoned and analytical. You do not have to agree with the authors. I may or
may not agree with them. The point is that you need to read critically. Don't
believe everything you read. Use your own logic and knowledge and insight to
decide what you think about the issues.
Grading
System: Grades will be determined
through the following:
|
February 1 |
5%
of the grade |
|
|
Exam
1 |
March
7 |
30%
of the grade |
|
March
24 |
30%
of the grade |
|
|
Class
presentation |
TBA |
10%
of the grade |
|
Exam
2 |
May
9 |
25
% of the grade |
How
do you calculate your grade? Use the percentages from the above table. So, if
you received the following grades, you would calculate your grades in the
following manner:
I
give you this very detailed formula for a number of reasons. You should never
be unaware of what your class average is. You can calculate it at any point in
the semester. If your grade is not what you'd like it to be, you should know,
and you should come see me about it. Do not come to me after Exam 3 and say
that you're having trouble in the class. It's too late at that point. But any
time in the semester that you feel you are having trouble, or not doing as well
as you feel you should, come talk to me. During my office hours and by
appointment I am happy to talk to you about the class
Grading
scale: I use a typical scale: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 55-69.
Borderline grades are considered in the following manner. If your grade is
69.5, 79.5, or 89.5, then you are a candidate for a round up to the higher
grade IF your grades have been going up during the semester. That means that if
you are borderline, but your third exam is lower than the previous exams (you
are between a B and C, but your third exam is a C), you will probably get the
lower grade. If you are between a B and C, but your third exam is a B, you will
probably get the B.
EXAMS
The exams will be short answer and essay. One week
before the exam I will place a review
sheet on line, linked to this syllabus, below this paragraph. This
review sheet should be used as your study guide for the exam. The review sheet
will include some terms that are from the readings only, so that you can go
back and review those items from the readings. Once you have the review sheet,
feel free to ask me questions about the terms. This is the best way to study
for the exam. If you understand the terms on the review sheet, you can define
each one and see how each one relates to the larger concepts and issues we've
discussed in class, you should do just fine on the exam. The exams will consist
of short answer/identifications and one essay. I will give more details on the
exams in class as we approach the first exam.
Research
Paper and Class Presentations
Follow
the link for detailed
instructions. Or go to the Assignment
sections of the Blackboard page for this class. Read these instructions
now. Read them later. Read them again and again.
Paper
Due: March 24
Last
day for turning in optional rough drafts: March 17
Paper
Topics will be chosen in consultation with me. I will explain in class.
COURSE AND READING SCHEDULE
Week 1 January 14-18:
Introduction
Hoffman, Chapter 1, 2 and 3.
Week 2 January 21-25:
Terrorism Basics: Definitions and History
Hoffman, Chapter 5, 6 and 7.
Week 3 January 28-February
1: The Modern Age of Terrorism
Map Quiz:
February 1
HSEP 301 Blank Maps
Hoffman, Chapter 8 and 9.
Burke,
Intro and Chapter 1.
Week 4 February 4-8:
Al-Qaeda: Origins, Ideology, and Operations
Burke, Chapters 2-5, 7, and
8.
Week 5 February 11-15: The
Political Context of Terrorism
But there is a reading
assignment
Burke, Chapters 11-15.
Week 6 February 18-22: Religion,
Politics, and Terrorism
Stern,
Introduction, Introduction to Part One, and Chapters 1 and 2.
Week 7 February 25-29:
Domestic Terrorism in the
Stern, Chapters 3-6.
Week 8 March 3-7: Exam One
and Introduction to Part II of Course
Exam 1: March
7
Stern, Chapters 8 and 10. (These
are on the first exam)
March 10-14: Spring Break
Have fun, but don’t do
anything that may jeopardize your ability to get a security clearance!
Week 9 March 17-21: The
New Counterterrorism Agenda
Last Day for turning in rough drafts of paper: March 17
Weimann, Introduction and
Chapters 1-3.
National
Security and Counterterrorism PPT
Week 10 March 24-28:
Coordinating the
Research Paper Due: March 24
No
Week 11 March 31-April 2:
Building a Counterterrorism Strategy and Lessons from Other Nations I
Weimann, Chapters 4, 6, and
7.
Counterterrorism
Policies (for reference)
Week 12 April 7-11:
Building a Counterterrorism Strategy and Lessons from Other Nations II
Class Presentations
Alexander, Introduction and
Chapters 1 and 2
IRA
Week 13 April 14-18:
Building a Counterterrorism Strategy and Lessons from Other Nations III
Class presentations
Weimann, Chapter 5.
Alexander, Chapter 3 and 4
FARC
Shining Path
Aum Shinrikyo
Week 14: April 21-25:
Worst Case Scenarios: CBRNE I
Class presentations
Alexander, Chapters 5 and 6
Jemaah Islamiyah
LTTE
HAMAS
Hezbollah
Week 15 April 28: Finish
Class Presentations
Class presentations
Alexander, Chapter 7
AQIM (or GSPC or Al-Qaeda in
Exam 2 May 9,
same room; notice the time change