Course Syllabus

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism from a European Perspective A

Semester & Location:	Fall 2019 - DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core Course - 3 credits
Core Course Study Tours:	Hamburg, Germany, Oslo, Norway and London, England
Major Disciplines:	International Relations, Political Science
Faculty Members:	Campbell Munro - campbell.munro@dis.dk
Program Director:	Neringa B. Vendelbo - nb@dis.dk
Program Assistant:	Julia Magnuson - jma@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Monday & Thursday, 10.05 - 11.25, F24-303

Program Orientation: Wednesday, August 21 , 09:30-11:30 in V10-A32

Description of course:

Terrorism and counter-terrorism have been on everybody’s mind since 9/11. However, terrorism didn’t just appear out of the blue on that horrifying September day. This course is a study of terrorism - its causes, aims, and forms - and of counter-terrorism measures introduced by the international community and individual states. The course examines the concept of terrorism, the question of how to define terrorism, and how different approaches to the study of terrorism can shed light on the implications of terrorism for international politics in the 21st century.

In order to better understand the concept and phenomenon of terrorism and the attempts to counter it, we will look at different types of terrorism and the attempts to deal with terrorism from a domestic European perspective. It is both relevant and important to study terrorism from a European perspective, because (unfortunately) several European countries have a very long history of dealing with terrorism (e.g. Northern Ireland (IRA), Spain (ETA), Italy (Red Brigades), Germany (Red Army Faction), Russia (The People’s Will and The Black Widows)). This historical perspective will allow us to gain a better insight into how terrorism is framed, why it occurs, and what some of the consequences are of reacting in different ways to terrorism. In particular, this course will focus on the contemporary domestic terror threat, from both far-right and religious terrorists, and the politics of radicalization and de-radicalization that has emerged as the main counter-terrorism paradigm. 

Learning objectives of the course:

By the end of this course students will be able to better understand the complex concept of terrorism, the problems with defining terrorism, differing approaches to the study of terrorism, why terrorism occurs, the various types of terrorism, and the politics of countering the contemporary domestic terrorist threat.  

Faculty:

Campbell Munro

Campbell holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from Lund University, and previously practiced as a barrister in London, specialising in refugee and immigration law. He is currently completing a PhD in International Law at the University of Copenhagen.

Readings:

There is no textbook for this course and all the readings for each class can be accessed and downloaded on Canvas via the Calendar.

A list of ‘Required  Readings’ and ‘Further Readings’ for each class are provided on Canvas. The further readings are provided to enable students to explore their interest and curiosity in a particular topic and to provide relevant research material for the final paper. Below is a selection of class readings:

'The Bomb in the Baby Carriage', Prologue to 'The Infernal Machine: A History of Terrorism', by Matthew Carr, (The New Press, 2006).

'How to Think About Islamic State', Pankaj Mishra, The Guardian, (24 July 2015).

'The Foundations of Modern Terrorism: State, Society and the Dynamics of Political Violence', by Martin A. Miller, (Cambridge University Press, 2012).

'Constructions of Terrorism: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Research and Policy,'(University of California Press, 2017).

Richard Jackson, Lee Jarvis, Jeroen Gunning, and Marie Breen-Smyth, 'Terrorism: A Critical Introduction'(Palgrave, 2011).

Erica Chenoweth, Richard English, Andreas Gofas, and Stathis N. Kalyvas (eds),'The Oxford Handbook of Terrorism', (Oxford University Press, 2019).

The Red Army Faction: A Documentary History, by J. Smith and André Moncourt, (PM Press, 2013).

Richard Jackson (ed) The Routledge Handbook of Critical Terrorism Studies (Routledge, 2016)

'Old Myths, New Fantasies and the Enduring Realities of Terrorism', by Michael Stohl, Critical Studies on Terrorism, 1(1) (2008)

'How (not) to Study Terrorism', by Verena Erlenbusch, Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, 17(4) (2014), 470 - 491.

'The Causes of Terrorism', by Martha Crenshaw, Comparative Politics13(4) (1981), 379 - 399.

Arun Kundani, 'The Muslims Are Coming: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror', (Verso, 2014)

'My Brother the Bomber', by Shiv Malik, Prospect Magazine, (June 30, 2007).

Is Religion the Problem?', by Mark Juergensmeyer,Hedgehog Review, 6(1) (2004), 1 - 10

'The Collective Nature of Lone Wolf Terrorism: Anders Behring Breivik and the Anti-Islamic Social Movement', by Lars Erik Berntzen and Sveinung Sandberg, Terrorism and Political Violence, 26(5) (2014), 759-779.

'The Myth of the 'Lone Wolf' Terrorist', by Jason Burke, The Guardian, (30 March, 2017).

'A Decade Lost: Rethinking Radicalisation and Extremism', by Arun Kundani, Claystone (2015).

'Illusion of Justice: Human Rights Abuses in US Terrorism Prosecutions', Human Rights Watch and Columbia Law School Report, (2014).

'The Sting: How the FBI Created a Terrorist', by Trevor Aaronson, The Intercept, (March 16, 2015).

'The Foreign Fighters Phenomenon in the European Union: Profiles, Threats and Policies', International Centre for Counter-Terrorism, Research Paper,(April 2016).

'"I Just Said It: The State": Examining the Motivations for Danish Foreign Fighting in Syria', by Jakob Sheikh, Perspectives on Terrorism10(6) (2016), 59-67.

'Age of Anger: A History of the Present', by Pankaj Mishra, (Allen Lane, 2017).

Field Studies:

• Field Study 1: Wednesday, 16 October, 13:00 - 17:00 -  Visit the National Center for the Prevention of Extremism
• Field Study 2: Wednesday, 27 November, 08:30 - 12:30 - TBC

Approach to Teaching:

The approach to teaching adopted in this course will be based on a seminar model, in which classroom discussion and engaged participation will be the main method of teaching and learning. Students should consider the course as presenting a series of ‘shared problems’ that we as a group will seek to reflect on together. Our shared project is to gain a better understanding of the concept of terrorism, and to be able to critically analyse the role that the concept of terrorism plays in European and international relations and politics. 

Expectations of the students:

Students are expected to abide by the Academic Regulations and assist in creating an environment that is conducive to learning and that protects the rights of all members of the DIS community. This course is designed to expose students to a variety of different arguments concerning a very topical and controversial topic, and is designed to provide students with tools with which to analyse those arguments and assess them critically. The course is not designed to impart a particular viewpoint to you, but rather to allow you to form your own perspective via an informed process of collective discussion and reflection. Please show respect for the views of your fellow-classmates, whether you agree with them or not. Whereas this course is designed to encourage debate, judgmental or intolerant behaviour will not be tolerated.

Being discussion-based, this course demands a high degree of student participation and engagement. Throughout the course, you will also have to develop and practice your own critical thinking by analyzing texts, concepts as well as specific case studies to understand the complexity of the concept of terrorism. Furthermore, you will have to give a presentation on a relevant topic as well as write a course paper.

Core Course Week and Study Tour:

Study Tours to Hamburg, Oslo and London to focus on three types of terrorism: (1) Red Army Faction and 'left wing terrorism', (2) Anders Breivik and 'right wing terrorism', and (3) the 7/7 2005 bombings and 'religious terrorism.'

Core Course Week and the Long Study Tour are an integral part of the core course, as we take the classroom on the road and see how theory presented in the classroom is translated into practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours; a short study tour during Core Course Week to Hamburg (9 to 11 September), and a long study tour to Oslo/London (7 to 12 October).

 Expectations for study tours:

• Participate in all activities
• Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
• Respect the destination, the speakers, DIS staff, and your fellow classmates
• Represent yourself, your home university and DIS in a positive light

 While on a program study tour DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.

 Travel policies:

You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you have to deviate from the group travel plans, you need approval from the program director and the study tours office.   

 Grading and Evaluation:    

Assignment	Percent
Participation and Engagement	30%
Study Tour Participation and Engagement	15%
Study Tour Assignments - Interview/Presentation	20%
Paper due Monday 25 November (Hand in printed copy and submit a copy by e-mail)	35%

 

Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Attendance
• Coursework, Exams, and Final Grade Reports

 

DIS - Study Abroad in Scandinavia - www.DISabroad.org