The mind of the terrorist : the psychology of terrorism from the IRA to al-Qaeda / Jerrold M. Post.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Post, Jerrold M.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terrorism--Psychological aspects.

Terrorism.

Terrorists--Psychology.

Terrorists.

Terrorism--History--20th century.

History.

Terrorism--History--21st century.

Physical Description:

vi, 311 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan, 2007.

Summary:

In contrast to the widely held assumption that terrorists are crazed fanatics, political psychologist Post demonstrates that they are psychologically "normal" and that "hatred has been bred in the bone." He reveals the powerful motivations that drive these ordinary people to such extraordinary evil by exploring the different types of terrorists, from national-separatists like the Irish Republican Army to social revolutionary terrorists like Shining Path and the Weather Underground, as well as religious extremists like al Qaeda and Aum Shinrikyo. These psychological components are often waved away in favor of focusing on political, social, and economic concerns terrorists profess, damaging our ability to truly understand these criminals. Here, Post uses his expertise to explain how the terrorist mind works and how this information can help us to combat terrorism more effectively.--From publisher description.

Contents:

1 Terrorisms and Terrorist Psychologies: An Introduction 1

Section I Nationalist-Separatist Terrorism: Carrying on the Mission of their Parents 11

2 Secular Palestinian Terrorism: "When Hatred is Bred in the Bone" 15

3 Irish Republican Army (IRA) 39

4 Basque Homeland and Liberty (ETA) 55

5 Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) 67

6 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) 83

Section II Social Revolutionary Terrorism: Rebelling Against the Generation of their Parents 101

7 Red Brigades (BR) 107

8 Red Army Faction (RAF) 121

9 Shining Path (SL) 133

10 Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 149

Section III Religious Extremist Terrorism: Killing in the Name of God 159

11 Hezbollah: The Party of God 161

12 Hamas: The Islamic Resistance Movement 175

13 Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda Version 1.0 193

14 Killing in the Name of Other Gods 207

Section IV The Changing Face of Terrorism 217

15 Al-Qaeda Version 2.0 and the Global Salafi Jihad 219

16 Tactics Old and New: Suicide Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism 227

17 Challenges and Implications: The Way Ahead 243.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [285]-298) and index.

ISBN:

1403966117

9781403966117

OCLC:

122715386

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description