| Unit name | Understanding ‘Terrorism’ |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SPOL30065 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Miller |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department | School for Policy Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit aims to examine how ‘terrorism’ and political violence are explained, constructed, mediated, researched, thought and communicated about and with what effect and provides you with the theoretical material necessary to understand the way that ideas about terrorism and political violence are used in society.
The unit also introduces you to the history and practice of debates on the issue of terrorism and violence; these debates have become more urgent and much more widespread in the period since 11 September 2001.
The unit focuses first on questions of definition: what is a ‘terrorist’ and when is violence justified? When does a ‘terrorist’ become a ‘freedom fighter’? It goes on to ask how the prevailing definitions come to be produced, circulated and reproduced or challenged.
The unit provides theoretical context for students interested in understanding and investigating political violence and conflict.
On successful completion of the unit, you will be able to:
1. Understand the contested nature of the concept of terrorism and the contending policy approaches to ‘terrorism’.
2. Evaluate theoretical approaches, ideas and arguments about political violence and terrorism.
3. Identify how ideas about 'terrorism' inform public, policy and social science debates about violence and its resolution or amelioration.
This unit will draw on a blended learning approach. Students will engage with asynchronous taught content (including, for example, narrated slides and other teaching and research materials) and will be tasked to complete activities in preparation for synchronous sessions to present and discuss ideas and clarify learning.
Part 1: 1,000 word report (25%)
Part 2: 2,000 word essay (75%)
Both assessments test all ILOs listed.
Aaronson, T. (2014) The Terror Factory: inside the FBI's manufactured war on terrorism. IG Publishing
Barker, J. (2008) The No-Nonsense Guide to Global Terrorism. London: New Internationalist
Sageman, M. (2016) Misunderstanding Terrorism. University of Pennsylvania Press
Sageman, M. (2017) Turning to Political Violence. University of Pennsylvania Press
