INTERNATIONAL
Terrorism: From the Fenians to Al Qaeda
SPRING HN258
Tuesdays
Sarah Campbell
This course is an attempt to investigate the forms of violence known as ‘terrorism’ and the means and strategies developed by governments in order to counter it. The study of terrorism is the study of human behaviour. It is an investigation of highly volatile human interaction. Therefore, it is important to review the events, ideas, motivations, theories and histories that result in terrorist violence. After a brief introduction to ideas of terrorism and the pre-history of terrorism, the course will examine the invention of modern terror through a number of case studies, beginning with the first modern terrorist group: the Irish Republican Brotherhood (known as the Fenians) who played a key role in the formation of an Irish Republican ideology and committed the first terrorist act in 1883 with the first London Tube Bomb on the District Line. It will then look at Tsarist Russia where the 'intelligentsia' launched attacks on organs of state, left-wing fighting against Fascism and Nazism in the 1970s and 1980s in western Germany and Italy, and Britain and Spain's long and drawn-out battles with their own terrorist groups, the IRA and ETA respectively. It will end with an account of Islamic militant terrorism. The module is interdisciplinary with a strong historical grounding. It will examine what is terrorism; how is it represented in the media and film; and how has globalisation changed the concept and enactment of modern terrorism.
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BELFIELD |
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8 Tuesdays |
Jan 29, Feb 5, 12, 19, 26, Mar 5, 12, 19 |
7.30pm - 9.30pm |
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FEE €155 |
Print Open Learning Application Form 2012.13 or ring (01) 716-7123 for Laser/credit card payment |
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Tutor Bio:
Sarah Campbell has a PhD in history from UCD, which was funded by the Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences. Her research interests include political protest and forms of extremism, as well as government and society responses to them. She lectures on Northern Ireland history in UCD and is the co-editor of ‘History and Policy’ on historyhub.ie. She works part-time as a researcher on Today with Pat Kenny in RTÉ and has previously worked in the Security and Defence Agenda think-tank in Brussels.
Provisional list of key topics to be covered:
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What is terrorism? The pre-history of terrorism: Manifestations of Terror through the Ages
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The ‘ideology’ of terrorism
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Representations of terrorism in media and film
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The invention of modern terrorism: Fenians, Nihilists in Tsarist Russia
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Baader-Meinhof gang (Germany), Red Brigades (Italy)
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IRA, ETA
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Al Qaeda
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Modern warfare – the evolution of terrorism from the car-bomb to suicide bombers
Who is the course for?
This course will appeal to anyone with an interest in history and politics and who is interested in debating key ideas relevant to current policy-making on an international scale. A previous knowledge of history and/or politics is not necessary
Reading List:
The following is a selection of recommended texts for those interested in reading further around the course content. We advise that you do not buy books in advance of the course as your tutor will discuss the list and suggest the most relevant reading for particular interests.
Gérard Chaliand and Arnaud Blin, The History of Terrorism: From antiquity to Al Qaeda (2007)
Michael Burleigh, Blood and Rage: A Cultural History of Terrorism (2009)
There are also a number of websites and documentaries online that could be consulted for the course. Please note that some of these websites will have a particular political agenda and you should be aware of this when you are using them.
Terrorism Research: http://www.terrorism-research.com/history/
The changing faces of terrorism: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/sept_11/changing_faces_01.shtml
Center for Defence Information: http://www.cdi.org/friendlyversion/printversion.cfm?documentID=1502
The Delaware Criminal Justice Council Terrorism Research Page: http://cjc.delaware.gov/terrorism/history.shtml
Guardian A History of Terror: Al Qaeda 1988-2008: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/13/history.alqaida
Documentaries (free online): http://www.cosmolearning.com/history/documentaries?topic=444
