• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Understanding Terrorism and Counterterrorism

Module description

This is a third-year module on terrorism as a form of political violence. The first part of the module studies political, sociological and psychological theories on political violence and why terrorism constitutes a particular form of political violence. It will introduce you to a wide range of complex historical, political and social factors that have contributed to the articulation of terrorist practices. The second part of the module analyses radicalisation. It explores role of the media in radicalisation and terrorism. The focus of this section will be on the internet and social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, and Telegram) while topics such as gamification will also be discussed. Through case studies (e.g. ISIS, Al Qaeda, Taliban, LeT), you will further deepen your understanding of strategic communication approaches of various terrorist groups. The third part focuses on disengagement, reintegration and reconciliation of violent extremists. It discusses counter terrorist strategies and prevention mechanisms, their effectiveness and shortcomings. Particular focus will be on the role of community involvement and new technologies. The module does not have any pre-requisites or co-requisite modules. This module is recommended for interdisciplinary pathways and is suitable for any third-year students in social and political sciences.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The overarching objective of the class is for you to develop interdisciplinary and scientific skills critical for understanding the complexity of terrorism as a form of political violence, radicalisation and its relationship with the media. Through a combination of critical discussions, watching documentaries & media analysis, lectures, analysis of current events, and participatory exercises (e.g. games, pub quizzes, group work and presentations), you will develop a core base of knowledge about terrorism.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of terrorism as a form of political violence, radicalisation and counter-terrorism and counter-radicalisation policies.
• 2. Appreciate historical trends in terrorism and the link between terrorism and various forms of media.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Appreciate the complexities of the topic and the interlinkages between politics, sociology, economics and legal perspectives aimed at providing a holistic understanding of terrorism.
• 4. Acquire and display a range of conceptual frameworks and theories from various relevant fields.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Demonstrate empathic appreciation of policy decisions.
• 6. Demonstrate awareness of contingency in decision-making processes.
• 7. Work independently, within a limited timeframe, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.
• 8. Communicate effectively in speech and writing.
• 9. Demonstrate critical and analytical skills through tutorial discussions and module assessments.
• 10. Demonstrate proficiency in the use of the internet, online journal databases and other IT resources for the purposes of tutorial and assessment preparation.
• 11. Demonstrate effective applied writing.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

• Conceptual and theoretical frameworks in studying terrorism
• Historical trends
• Terrorism and technologies
• Terrorism and Media
• Gender in Terrorism
• Critical Studies of Terrorism
• Counter terrorism mechanisms
• Reintegration, reengagement and reconciliation of former terrorists and violent extremists

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

1)    Nacos, Brigitte, 2016, “Mass-Mediated Terrorism: Mainstream and Digital Media in Terrorism and Counterterrorism 3rd Edition, USA: Rowman and Littlefield Publishers, INC

2)    Hoffman, Bruce. 2017. “Inside Terrorism” (3^rd Ed.). New York: Columbia University Press.

3)    Kennedy, C. (2015) Terrorism and Political Violence. London: Sage

4)    Lee, J. and Lister, M. (2015) Critical Perspectives on Counter-Terrorism. London: Routledge.

5)    Journal articles + book chapters

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd/

www.icc-cpi.int

www.interpol.int

www.europa.eu

Key words search

Terrorism, radicalisation, International Relations, media