As summarized in the presentation and CHDS video, some problems have been identified in terrorism studies. Being aware of those issues and their root causes will provide you with fundamental information to understand different approaches in terrorism studies. In this activity, examine core resources (presentation and CHDS video), and if you’re highly interested in the topic, I also recommend skipping Hoffman’s Inside Terrorism. Then, think about the following questions and write a reflection paper.
What comes to your mind when you first heard the term terrorism? Is it true? What is or should be the definition of terrorism? Why does the definition matter?
Can each state create its own definitions for terrorism? What may be the risks of it?
What problems have been identified by some scholars with terrorism studies in resources?
How can more objective scientific research on terrorism be achieved?
resources:
https://www.belfercenter.org/publication/strategies-terrorism
https://www.csis.org/analysis/escalating-terrorism-problem-united-states
https://www.start.umd.edu/research-projects/global-terrorism-database-gtd