Rome, Italy - Course Descriptions - International Terrorism

Course Information

Contact Hours and Credits

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Objectives:

Nature of terrorism and contributory societal factors. Ideology, objectives, structure, dynamics, and sources of support of domestic and international groups in key geopolitical areas. Trends and challenges. Domestic and international countermeasures.

Syllabus

This course examines the nature of terrorism as a political and criminological phenomenon and its impact on law and order, national security, and international affairs.

This course is intended to offer the student:

1. a conceptual frame of reference to analyze domestic and international terrorism and to differentiate it from other political, sociological, and criminal phenomena;
2. an understanding of ideological, societal, psychological, and technical factors that variously contribute to the birth, rise, decline, success, or failure of terrorist dynamics;
3. knowledge of the basic structural and operational characteristics of terrorist groups;
4. familiarity with significant terrorist groups in key geopolitical areas;
5. an appreciation for the role of sponsor states, the “privatization” of sponsorship, and the impact of terrorism on international affairs;
6. a comprehension of trends and challenges as well as indications-and-warning intelligence criteria;
7. an understanding of available countermeasures.

Recommended Text(s)

Assigned readings will be drawn from the following texts:

1. Walter Laqueur, The New Terrorism, Oxford University Press, Oxford – New York, 1999.
2. The 9/11 Commission Report, Final Report of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, W.W. Norton & Compay, Inc., New York, 2004.
3. U.S. Department of State, Patterns of Global Terrorism, Washington, D.C. [former annual reports – last report covers 2003].
4. U.S. Department of State, Country Reports on Terrorism, Washington, D.C. [first report covers 2004].
5. Reference material distributed in class.

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