This document is a syllabus for a course on the theory and politics of terrorism. It provides information about the instructor, class details, learning outcomes, required readings, assignments, and grading. The course will examine concepts of terrorism through a historical and objective lens. It will study the history of the Middle East and how nation state developments contributed to terrorism. Both domestic and international terrorist groups and tactics will be analyzed. Assignments include quizzes, a team research project and presentation on a terrorist group, and a midterm and final exam.

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Syllabus: CRIM 475 Dr. Lisa Newmark
Fall 2016 Associate Professor
Adjunct Professor James L. Feldkamp Undergraduate Program Director
jfeldkam@gmu.edu George Mason University
jlfeldkamp@yahoo.com lnewmark@gmu.edu
(703) 993-8307
Criminology,Law,and Society
George Mason University
4400 University Drive,4F4
Fairfax, VA 22030
CRIM – 475 -01
T heory & Politics of T errorism
(Course 73178)
Room: Exploratory Hall L004
T ime: Wednesday 4:30PM - 7:10PM
Course Description: This course examines the phenomenon ofterrorism by examining the concepts
and causes, religion, public relations and politics ofterrorism. Through historical and objective
analysis, the course is intendedto provide a basic foundation for the root cause ofterrorism and how
terrorism is confronted by political, diplomatic, law enforcement and military intervention.
Additionally,the ability for terrorist groups to advancea political agenda, fundraise and their use of
media to promotetheir vision and ideology is also examined.
We study the history ofthe Middle East, the creation ofthe Nation States we know today as Turkey,
Syria, Lebanon,Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia and how did the development ofthese Nation
producean environmentthat contributed to international terrorism? The continuing threat from al-
Qaeda is examined, as well as other religious, secularand fundamentalist terrorist organizations such
as Hezbollah, Hamas, Tamil Tigers etc.,
Additionally,we will examine Domestic Terrorism including the Earth Liberation Front (ELF), the
Animal Liberation Front(ALF), Christian Fundamentalism,Survivalists and Cults along with offshoots
of these organizations.
Learning Outcomes: This course is intended to provide the studentwith a basic understanding of
the various threats from terrorism, the ability for terrorism groupsto advance a political agenda, how
fund raising and use of media is used to promote their vision and ideology and what can be done to
counteract and combatterrorism. By studying these facets ofterrorism the student will establish a
baseline ofunderstanding in both domestic and international terrorism
Privacy ofStudent Records:
FERPA and Release ofStudent Information (Family Educational Rights &Privacy Act of1974) is a
federal law that affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. The University
may release the following directory information upon request:student's name;local address (including
email);telephonenumbers;likeness usedin University publications including photographs;names and
address ofemergency contact;dates ofattendance;school ordivision ofenrollment;enrollment status;
field of study;credit hours earned;degreesearned;honors received;participation in University
recognized organizations and activities (including intercollegiate athletics);and height, weight,and age
of members ofathletic teams. Please visit the Registrar’s Office web site at www. registrar.gmu.edu
for additional information aboutstudent privacyand FERPA.

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Im portant Dates and Information!
For graduation deadlines, please go to the Graduation Timelines page.
Consortium Registration Deadline TBD
First day of classes; last day to submit Domicile Reclassification
Application; Payment Due Date
August 29
Labor Day, university closed September 5
Last day to add classes—all individualized section forms due
Last day to drop with no tuition penalty
September 6
Last day to drop with a 33% tuition penalty September 20
Final Drop Deadline (67% tuition penalty) September 30
Midterm progress reporting period (100-200 level classes)—grades
available via Patriot Web
September 26 –
October 21
Selective Withdrawal Period (undergraduate students only)
October 3 –
October 28
Columbus Day recess
(Monday classes/labs meet Tuesday. Tuesday classes do not meet this
week)
October 10
Incomplete work from spring/summer 2016 due to instructor October 28
Incomplete grade changes from spring/summer 2016 due to Registrar November 4
Thanksgiving recess November 23 – 27
Last day of classes December 10
Reading Days
Reading days provide students with additional study time for final
examinations. Faculty may schedule optional study sessions, but
regular classes or exams may not be held.
December 12
Exam Period
Tues December 13 –
Tues December 20
Degree Conferral Date
The Winter Graduation Ceremony will be held on Wed December 21.
December 21
Note: Attendance at the first class m eeting is required. Students m ay be dropped from
the course at the discretion of the department if they fail to attend the first class.

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Students m ust not assume the department will automatically initiate a drop and are
responsible for dropping courses they do not plan to attend.
DO NOT PLAGIARIZE! Students will act honorably, honestly, and fairly. GMU maintains an Honor
Code for these circumstances. The Honor Code covers i) cheating and attempted cheating, ii)
plagiarism, iii) lying about academic work, and iv) stealing.
Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action:
GMU is an equal opportunity and affirmativeaction institution committedto the principlethat access to
study or employment opportunities afforded by the university be accorded to each person on the basis
of individual merit. Students and employees should bring problems or questions regarding
EO/AA/Sexual Harassmentpolicies to the attention ofthe supervisor, departmentchair, or to the vice
president and university equity officer, D105 Mason Hall, 7 03-993‑8730.
Students With Disabilities: The University maintains a Disability Resource Center to assistsuch
students (http://www.gmu.edu/student/drc/). Students with disabilities can contact Disabled Student
Services, 234 Student Union I, 703-993‑2474 (V/TDD).
Course requirements:
1.) Students mustattend class and read assignedmaterials in advance ofclass. Readings
compliment lectures,and attending lecturewill be essential for doing well on the projects
required. Reading before class will help you understand the lecture. Short quizzes will be
provided prior to the subject being reviewed in class. These quizzes will be take-home and open
book and will be presented prior to the designed lecture.
2.) Additionally,each student is required to identify an article in a national or international
newspaper or on the web, dealing with Terrorismfor impromptu discussion which all students
may be called upon for class discussion.
3.) Following is the breakdown ofgrading during class;
Course Requirem ents:
Class room: 35%
Attendance/Participation 10/05%
* Quizzes 20%
T eam projects: 25%
Paper and Presentation on DT /IT
Mid-T erm: 15%
Final Exam: 25%
T otal 100%
Grading:
97-100 (A + )
93-96 (A )
90-93 (A - )
87-89 (B + )
82-86 (B )
80-82 (B - )
77-79 (C + )
73-76 (C )
70-72 (C - )
60-69 (D )

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* Quizzes can be handed in at the beginning ofclass or email to the professor with a
“time stamp” prior to 4:30 (the beginning of class).
Due date for Projects:
 Research project due: November 2nd
 Research project due: November 9th
All papers should be no more than 6 pages in length (not counting coversheet and bibliography) and
will be presented to the class as groupreport. Duration oforal report should be no more than 15
minutes (PowerPoint slides are requested).
In your terroristpaper and presentation: YOU are both the Cop and the Terrorist! Pick a
terrorist group and;describewho they are, what is their goal, what is their methodology (history of
attacks), etc,
The paper and presentation should contain but not limited to the following;
1. History oforganization
2. Motivation ofthat organization (e.g. destroying Israel, saving the planet/animals, etc.,).
3. Funding for that organization
&
4. Develop and present for the class an “academic” attack plan that would coincide with the
philosophy ofthe organization. In this plan the following activities should be addressed:
a) Does your plan align with the ideology ofthat group?
b) What are you going to attack?
c) How are you going to attack?
d) What is your media plan?
e) What is your escape plan?
Required Reading:
1.) Lynne L. Snowden & Bradley C. Whitsel, Terrorism, Research, Readings and Realities
(Pearson Education, Inc., 2005) ISBN 0-13-117373-1
2.) Thomas J. Bradey (editor), Violenceand Terrorism, Fifteenth Edition ,
(McGraw-Hill Education) ISBN- 10: 1259400085 ISBN-13: 97 81259400087
3.) James L. Feldkamp , Theory and Politics ofTerrorism
(Cognella 2013) ISBN: 97 8-1-62661-186-3
4.) Additional websites can also be usedand discussed to increase student’s knowledge on the
subject; Be ready to discuss events as found on above websites and otherinformational outlets.
5.) Various Handouts concerning relativeand historical events as relating to Terrorism.
Security: In the case ofan emergency, ifat all possible, the class should shelter in place. Ifthe
building that the class is in is affected, follow the evacuation procedures for the building. After
evacuation, seek shelterat a predetermined rendezvous location.

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Military Duty: Any student who is a member ofa military reserve unit or the National Guard and is
activated orcalled to active duty early in a semester orsummer session will automatically be entitled to
a full refund ofall tuition and fees that he or she has paid toward the expenses ofthat academic term. If
the notification ofthe call to activeduty comes afterthe mid-term examinations or after other
substantial graded work has been completed,the student will have the option ofeither taking a full
refund oftuition and fees or taking an incomplete in his or her courses with the privilege ofreturning to
complete all requiredcoursework at some futuredate without payment ofany further tuition and fee
charges. It is the responsibility ofthe student to presentevidence ofhis or her activation to the Office of
Student Accounts and to request the appropriaterefund. Should a degree student called up for active
duty find it necessary to interrupt activepursuit ofthe degree, he or she may petition the Dean for a
leave ofabsence for a specific period oftime, generally limited to one calendar year. Deans are
encouraged to grant any request to extend the leave ofabsence for longer than the customary period
should military service require an absence ofmore than one year.
All students on activeduty will be exempted automatically from the request for a fifty dollar voluntary
library contribution withoutrequiring any communication from them or their initials on the bill.
Class Schedule
Week I (8/31/2016)
(Intro/Concept of Terrorism)
Lynne L. Snowden & Bradley C. Whitsel, “Section One, Intro” Pg. 1- 10
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities
Randy Borum, “Understanding the Terrorist Mindset” Pg. 39-42
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Gary Khalil, “Etiology of Deviant Behavior” Pg. 23-38
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Section 2
(Causes of Terrorism)
Michael P. Areana, Bruce A. Arrigo, “Identity and the Terrorist Threat” Pg. 11-45
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities
Alan Krueger, “What Makes a Terrorist?” Pg. 49-52
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Week II (9/7/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #1 & 2
Section 3
(Terrorism & Media)
David Whittaker, “Motivations for Terrorism” Pg. 9-21
Theory and Politics of Terrorism

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Boaz Ganor, “Terror as a Strategy of Psychological Warfare” Pg. 43-47
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Feisal Mohamed, “Globe of Villages: Digital Media & the Rise of Homegrown Terrorism”
Pg. 87-91
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Jonathan White, “Terrorism and the Media” Pg. 69-85
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Section 4
(Terrorism & Media)
Brett O’Donnell and David Gray, “Media and State Sponsored Terrorism,” Pg. 129-135
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Gabriel Weimann, “www.terror.net How Modern Terrorist use the Internet” Pg. 137-148
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Madeline Gruen, “White Ethnonationalist and Political Islamists; Methods of Fundraising
and Propaganda on the Internet” Pg. 149-160
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Week III (9/14/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #3
Section 5
(Terrorism & Crime)
Barry R. McCaffrey and John A Basso:
“Narcotics, Terrorism, and International Crime: Convergence Phenomenon”
Terrorism and Counterterrorism 2nd Edition Pg. 322-335 Blackboard
John Cisar, “Narcoterrorism: How Drug Trafficking and Terrorism Intersect,” Pg. 39-46
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Gregory Treverton, Carl Matthies, Karla J. Cunningham, “Organized Crime and Terrorism”
Pg. 111-118
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Section 6
(Terrorism & Crime)
Madsen, Frank G., “Transnational Crime and Terrorism” Pg. 99-110
Theory and Politics of Terrorism

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Elsie Gonzalez, “The Nexus Between Human Trafficking and Terrorism/Organized Crime Combating
Human Trafficking by Creating a Cooperative Law Enforcement System” Pg. 119-131
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Week IV (9/21/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #4
Section 7
(Terrorism & Religion)
Magnus Ranstorp, “Terrorism in the Name of Religion” Pg. 167-177
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Juergensmeyer, Mark, “Responding to Religious Terrorism on a Global Scale” Pg. 263-273
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Mark Juergensmeyer, “Holy Orders: Religious Opposition to Modern States” Pg. 203-210
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Adam L. Silverman, “Zealous Before the Lord: The Construction of Christian Identity
Theology” Pg. 293-301
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities
Section 8
(Terrorism & Religion)
Huseyin Cinoglu, “Sociological Understanding of the Relationship between Terrorism and
Religion,” Pg. 167-171
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Robert Jay Lifton, “In the Lord’s Hands” Pg. 193-202
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Heather S. Gregg, “Defining and Distinguishing Secular and Religious Terrorism,” Pg. 155-
162
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Bruce Hoffman, “The Logic of Suicide Terrorism” Pg. 377-386
Theory and Politics of Terrorism

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Week V (9/28/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #5
Section 9
(Domestic Terrorism)
Sarah H. Corley, Brent L. Smith, and Kelly Damphousse,
“The Changing Face of American Terrorism” Pg. 49-61
Terrorism, Research, Read, Realities
Christopher Hewitt, “The Political Context of American Terrorism” Pg. 217-236
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Section 10
(Domestic Terrorism)
Jonathan Masters, “Militant Extremists in the United States,” Pg. 97-99
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Chester L. Quarles, “Rural Radical Religion: Christian identity and Covenant Community
Militias” Pg. 353-363
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities
Week VI (10/5/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #6
Section 11
(International Terrorism)
Dr. Sebastian Gorka, "The Power of Ideas: Propaganda, Strategic Communications and the
War against Salafi Jihad” Pg. 245-255
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Louise Richardson, “Global Rebels: Terrorist Organizations as Trans- National Actor”
Pg. 257-262
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Steven Krasner, Transnational Terrorism” Pg. 71-74
Violence and Terrorism, Fifteenth Edition

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Section 12
(Religious International Terrorism)
Judy Barsalou, “Islamic Extremists: How do They Mobilize Support?” Pg. 139-148
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities
Ramtanu Maitra, “ISIS: Saudi-Qatari-Funded Wahhabi Terrorists Worldwide,” Pg. 55-59
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Mid Term Prep
Week VII (10/12/2016)
Mid - Term
Week VIII (10/19/2016)
Quiz Due #7
Section 13
(Environmental Terrorism)
Kelly Stoner, Gary Perlstein, “Implementing “Justice” through Terror and Destruction:
Eco-terror’s Violent Agenda to “Save” Nature” Pg. 90-110
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities” Appendix 112-133
Scott Smallwood, “Speaking for the Animals, or the Terrorists?” Pg. 269-274
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Matt Rasmussen, “Green Rage” Pg. 275-283
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Ashley Bohacik, “When Activists Attack: Companies Square Off against Animal Rights
Groups” Pg. 285-288
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Scott Stewart, “Escalating Violence from the Animal Liberation Front” Pg. 102-105
Violence and Terrorism, Annual Editions 13/14 - Blackboard
Michael Loadenthal, “The Earth Liberation Front: A Social Movement Analysis,”
Pg. 100-109
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition

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Section 14
(Environmental Terrorism)
Movie
Week IX (10/26/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #8
Section 15
(State Sponsor of Terrorism)
Ray Takeyh and Nikolas K. Gvosdev, “Do Terrorist Networks Need a Home?” Pg. 321-328
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Gary Khalil, “State Sponsorship of Terrorism” Pg. 329-333
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
“Iran is the World’s Preeminent State Sponsor of Terrorism”
Havlish v. Iran Executive Summary; Pg. 295-320
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Daniel Byman, “Iran’s Support for Terrorism in the Middle East,” Pg. 60-65
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Week X (11/02/2016)
Class Presentation
Week XI (11/09/2016)
Class Presentation

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Week XII (11/16/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #9
Section 16
(Counter-Terrorism)
Mathew J. Morgan, “The Origins of New Terrorism” Pg. 351-361
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Anthony N. Celso, “The Islamic State and Boko Haram: Fifth Wave Jihadist Terror Groups,”
Pg. 220-222
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Stephen Krasner, “Transnational Terrorism,” Pg. 71-74
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Whittaker, David J: “Future Forms of Terrorism” Pg. 343-350
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Section 17
(Counter-Terrorism)
Alex Waterman - The Impact of ISIS’ Mentoring of North Africa’s Jihadist Groups
Pg. 75-77
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Aurelie Garbay, “Countering Terrorism in Democracies: Fighting Fire with Fire?”
Pg. 197-199
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Gary Khalil, “Countering Terrorism” Pg. 401-417
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Shmue Bar: “Deterring Terrorists: What Israel Has Learned” Pg. 419-428
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Week XIII (11/23/2016)
THANKSGIVING

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Week XIV (11/30/2016)
Quiz Due: Quiz #10
Section 18
(Defeating Terrorism)
Gary Khalil, “Counter-Terrorism and the Law” Pg. 387-394
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Audrey Kurth Cronin, “The Diplomacy of Counterterrorism: Lessons’ Learned, Ignored, and
Disputed” Pg. 80-90
Terrorism, Research, Readings, and Realities
Dr. Gorka, "Understanding and Defeating Al Qaeda" Pg. 429-437
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
William Tupman, “Reflecting on Terror after Charlie Hebdo. What Now?” Pg. 225-227
Violence and Terrorism Fifteenth Edition
Section 19
(Defeating Terrorism)
Andrew C. McCarthy “Enemies, Not Defendants-Let the Law of War Meet the War on Terror”
Pg. 151-153
Violence and Terrorism, Annual Editions 12/13-On Blackboard
James M. Olson, “Intelligence and the War on Terror: How Dirty Are We Willing to Get Our
Hands?” Pg. 437-443
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Bruce Hoffman: “A Nasty Business” Pg. 445-449
Theory and Politics of Terrorism
Week XV (12/07/2016)
Reading Day
Final Prep
Week XVI (12/14/2016)
Final