Topic The research paper for this course is a case study focusing on a particular terrorist group (past or present) of your choosing. I have compiled a list of terrorist groups for you to choose from. Please note that Al-Qaeda—the core group predominantly operating in the Middle East—is not an option (because it was covered extensively in your text and lectures). However, Al-Qaeda affiliate groups are still available as research options. Likewise, if you are interested in researching a terrorist group that is not on the list, please feel free to clear it with me first. Structure For the first one-quarter of your paper I want you to “zoom in” and describe the attributes of your terrorist group of choice. Some of the aspects you can discuss are: • In which wave(s) of terrorism do/did they operate?  • What environments do they operate in?  • Who are their targets?  • What are their beliefs?  • What is their goal?  • What is their source of funding?  • Do women play a role?  • What weapons do they use?  • Do they use media/communication?  • What tools do they use for recruitment and radicalization? For the second three-quarters of your paper I want you to “zoom out” and think critically about your terrorist group’s opportunities and challenges. In a sense, you are being asked to simultaneously think like the leader of a terrorist group and a counter-terrorism agent.  This section should make up the bulk of your paper. • If your terrorist group is no longer active, I want you to discuss why they disbanded and speculate as to what they could have done different (funding-wise, operationally, learning-based, networking, recruitment, etc.) in order to survive. Explain your reasoning. Which do you think was the most important factor, and why? Explain your reasoning. Remember to support your argument and sub-arguments with specific examples from course material, lectures, and outside sources.  • If your terrorist group is still active, I want you to discuss current efforts to combat them and speculate as to why they are still successfully active (funding-wise, operationally, learning-based, networking, recruitment, etc.). Explain your reasoning. Which do you think is the most important factor, and why? Explain your reasoning. Remember to support your argument and sub-arguments with specific examples from course material, lectures, and outside sources. Formatting and Submission The paper should be about 5 pages in length, but no longer than 7 pages. Double-spaced, using 12pt. Times New Roman type, with 1-inch margins on all sides. 3 outside sources are required (e.g, academic journal articles, books, policy reports, etc.) Include a bibliography at the end of your paper; the bibliography is not included in your page count. Use APA, MLA or Chicago-style citations. **No core group of Al-Qaeda (Middle East)** **No US-based terrorist groups** LIST OF TERROIST TOPICS TO BE USED Europe Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA) Continuity Irish Republic Army (CIRA) .

1. Topic
The research paper for this course is a case study focusing on a
particular terrorist group (past or present) of your choosing. I
have compiled a list of terrorist groups for you to choose from.
Please note that Al-Qaeda—the core group predominantly
operating in the Middle East—is not an option (because it was
covered extensively in your text and lectures). However, Al-
Qaeda affiliate groups are still available as research options.
Likewise, if you are interested in researching a terrorist group
that is not on the list, please feel free to clear it with me first.
Structure
For the first one-quarter of your paper I want you to “zoom in”
and describe the attributes of your terrorist group of choice.
Some of the aspects you can discuss are:
• In which wave(s) of terrorism do/did they operate?
• What environments do they operate in?
• Who are their targets?
• What are their beliefs?
• What is their goal?
• What is their source of funding?
• Do women play a role?
• What weapons do they use?
• Do they use media/communication?
• What tools do they use for recruitment and radicalization?
For the second three-quarters of your paper I want you to “zoom
out” and think critically about your terrorist group’s
opportunities and challenges. In a sense, you are being asked to
simultaneously think like the leader of a terrorist group and a
counter-terrorism agent.
This section should make up the bulk of your paper.
• If your terrorist group is no longer active, I want you to
discuss why they disbanded and speculate as to what they could
have done different (funding-wise, operationally, learning-
based, networking, recruitment, etc.) in order to survive.
Explain your reasoning. Which do you think was the most

2. important factor, and why? Explain your reasoning. Remember
to support your argument and sub-arguments with specific
examples from course material, lectures, and outside sources.
• If your terrorist group is still active, I want you to discuss
current efforts to combat them and speculate as to why they are
still successfully active (funding-wise, operationally, learning-
based, networking, recruitment, etc.). Explain your reasoning.
Which do you think is the most important factor, and why?
Explain your reasoning. Remember to support your argument
and sub-arguments with specific examples from course material,
lectures, and outside sources.
Formatting and Submission
The paper should be about 5 pages in length, but no longer than
7 pages. Double-spaced, using 12pt. Times New Roman type,
with 1-inch margins on all sides. 3 outside sources are required
(e.g, academic journal articles, books, policy reports, etc.)
Include a bibliography at the end of your paper; the
bibliography is not included in your page count. Use APA, MLA
or Chicago-style citations.
**No core group of Al-Qaeda (Middle East)**
**No US-based terrorist groups**
LIST OF TERROIST TOPICS TO BE USED
Europe
Real Irish Republican Army (RIRA)
Continuity Irish Republic Army (CIRA)
Italian Red Brigades
Red Army Faction [Germany]
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) [Spain, France]
Revolutionary Organization 17 November [Greece]
Revolutionary Struggle [Greece]
Asia
Japanese Red Army

3. Aum Shinrikyo [Japan]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) [Sri Lanka]
Kongra-Gel KGK (formerly Kurdistan Worker’s Party-PKK)
Abu Sayyaf [Philippines]
Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU)
Jemaah Islamiya Organization (JI) [Indonesia]
Jamaah Ansharut Tauhid (JAT) [Indonesia]
Indian Mujahideen [India]
Taliban [Afghanistan]
Communist Party of Nepal
Middle East
Hezbollah [Lebanon]
Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna [Iraq]
Kongra-Gel
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLO)
Kahane Chai [Israel]
HAMAS [Israel, Palestine]
Aden-Abyan Islamic Army [Yemen]
Islamic State (IS) [Iraq, Syria, Iran]
Latin America
Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) [Peru]
Marxist-Leninist terrorist group of Colombia (FARC)
National Liberation Army (ELN) [Colombia]
Africa
Armed Islamic Group of Algeria (GIA)
Boko Haram [Nigeria]
Ansaru [Nigeria]
Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (formerly GSPC) [Algeria,
Mali, Niger]
Gama’a al-Islamiyya [Egypt]
Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (LIFG)
Ansar Dine [Mali]
Ansar al-Shari’a in Tunisia
Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) [Uganda]
North America

4. Front de Liberation du Quebec [Canada]
The Squamish Five (Vancouver Five) [Canada]