Course Syllabus: Modern Political Terrorism (202:552 and 478:574)
Spring Semester 2013
Wednesday 2:00 – 4:40 pm, CLJ Room 572
Dr. Samuels (office: CLJ 541, by appointment)
samuelsn@andromeda.rutgers.edu
The seminar will examine the topics listed below through overview-lectures and informed
discussion based on extensive reading. Students should acquire three paperbacks (available at
Rutgers Bookstore and at New Jersey Books for your convenience): 1. Gus Martin,
Understanding Terrorism, 4th edition, (Sage Publications, 2013); 2. The 9/11 Commission
Report (paperback “authorized edition”, WW Norton); 3. Bernard Lewis, The Crisis of Islam
(Random House, 2004). Additional readings will be posted to the course Blackboard site.
The selected bibliography provides useful initial sources for pursuing our topics in depth.
Students will be required to write a major research paper on an approved topic in the area of
terrorism; the paper will constitute 65% of the grade for the seminar; the balance of the grade
will be based on a mid-term exam and on class participation.
Outline of Topics:
1. January 23: defining Terrorism: political and legal consequences;
(Martin, chapters 2, 3)
2. January 30: a film about revolution/insurgency/terror;
(at Dana Library, promptly at 2:00 pm)
3. February 6: history and global tour of Terrorism;
(Martin, chapters 4, 5)
4. February 13: the role of ideas: ideologies, nationalism, race/ethnicity,
mass movements; (Martin chapters 7, 8)
5. February 20: typologies: the terrorist; the terrorist group – structure, tactics;
(Martin, chapters 10, 11)
6. February 27: religion; the Middle-East; radical Islamist groups;
(Martin, chapter 6; Bernard Lewis)
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7. March 6: intelligence and counter-intelligence;
8. March 13: 9/11 Report: a detailed case study
( 9/11 Commission Report )
(March 18 – March 24 Spring Recess)
9.
March 27: counter-terrorism; counter-insurgency;
(Martin, chapter 13)
(Dr. Stanton)
10. April 3: countering terrorism: Homeland Security, Patriot Act,
restructuring government; (Martin, chapters 12, 14)
(NS and Dr. Stanton)
11. April 10: countering terrorism: Globalization issues; Risk
12. April 17: Table-top counter-terrorism exercise part I
(NS and Dr. Cozine)
13. April 24: Table-top counter-terrorism exercise part II
(NS and Dr. Cozine)
14. May 1: Course summary and wrapup
: Research Papers Final Due Date
(Note: it is required, although surely unnecessary, that I inform you that plagiarism
is incompatible with graduate student status, and will not be tolerated.)
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