Counterterrorism Challenges Old and New

Catalog description

The emergence of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), new technological advances, and a recent “backlash to globalization” have all contributed to a rise in violent homegrown extremism, lone actor incidents, and coordinated recruitment and attack efforts by Islamist and far-right terrorist groups in Europe and the United States. How should democratic societies respond to the threat posed by terrorism? This course will examine the ways in which democracies seek to combat and prevent violent extremism domestically, both in the short and long term. We will explore different initiatives undertaken to counter terrorism historically and in the present day, evaluate their effectiveness, and propose innovative solutions. Students will also learn about the reasons why sustained campaigns of terrorism emerge in democracies and what conditions are necessary for terrorism to thrive in relatively free societies.