Summary
This volume addresses two issues that remain largely unexplored in contemporary terrorism studies. It rehabilitates the historical and comparative analysis as a way to grasp the essence of terrorism, including its jihadi strand. Crucial similarities with earlier forms of radicalisation and terrorism abound and differences appear generally not fundamental.
Likewise, the very concept of radicalisation is seldom questioned anymore. Nevertheless it often lacks conceptual clarity and empirical validation. Once considered a quintessential European phenomenon, the United States too experiences how some of its own citizens radicalise into terrorist violence. This collective work compares radicalisation in both continents and the strategies aimed at de-radicalisation. But it also assesses if the concept merits its reputation as the holy grail of terrorism studies.
Contents
Part 1.The State of the Threat -- 1. Jihadi terrorism : a global assessment of the threat / Paul R. Pillar -- 2. Al-Qaeda : a true global movement / Olivier Roy -- 3. Logics of jihadi violence in North Africa / Hugh Roberts -- 4. "Terrorism studies" : a critical appraisal / Teun Van de Voorde --
Part 2. Cycles of Terrorism and Radicalization -- 5. The debate over "old" vs. "new" terrorism / Martha Crenshaw -- 6. Radicalisation and terrorism in history : lessons from the radical left terrorist campaigns in Europe and the United States / Leena Malkki -- 7. Cycles of revolutionary terrorism / Rik Coolsaet --
Part 3. Radicalisation in Europe and the US -- 8. Muslims in Europe and the US : a shared but overrated risk of radicalism / Jocelyne Cesari -- 9. The turn to political violence in the West / Marc Sageman -- 10. Characteristics of Jihadi terrorists in Europe (2001- 2009) / Edwin Bakker -- 11. Dutch extremist Islamism : Van Gogh's murderer and his ideas / Rudolph Peters -- 12. The rise and demise of Jihadi terrorism in Belgium / Rik Coolsaet --
Part 4. Deradicalisation Experiences -- 13. Disengagement, de-radicalization and the arc of terrorism : future directions for research / John Horgan, Max Taylor -- 14. Group desistence from terrorism : the dynamics of actors, actions and outcomes / Clark McCauley -- 15. (De-)escalating radicalisation. The debate within immigrant communities in Europe / Tarik Fraihi -- 16. Competing counter-radicalisation models in the UK / Robert Lambert -- 17. Counterterrorism and counter-radicalisation in Europe. how much unity in diversity? / Rik Coolsaet -- 18. Counter-radicalisation in the United States / Lorenzo Vidino -- Epilogue: terrorism and radicalisation : what do we now know?