INTL 5890 Terrorism in World Politics

Course Description

Understanding the motivation, tactics and targeting trends of terrorist and extremist groups is mandatory if managers are to be able to evaluate potential threats and then develop appropriate countermeasures to protect the organization's personnel and other assets. Students discuss terrorism as a form of political violence and its effects on security management. Using case studies and class discussions, students examine groups ranging from radical religious fundamentalists to environmental extremists along with other extreme special interest groups. Understanding the manifestations of terrorism will enable students to develop and to apply some of the countermeasures against it through the use of case studies and specific activities.

Course Objectives

Listed below are the long-term objectives you should be striving towards as a participant AND contributor in this course.

Describe historical terrorist organizations to include anarchist, nationalist, and anti-colonial movements.
Define terrorism within the context of early 21st Century historical events.
List and describe the different terrorist tactics employed in the modern era.
Identify the terrorist organizations that specifically target U.S. government and business interests today.
Define Eschatology and state how it is reflected in current terrorist philosophies.
Distinguish between typical criminal behavior and terrorist activities.
Distinguish between terrorist activities and asymmetric warfare employed by nation-states.
Explain the motivations behind the tactic of suicide bombing.
Demonstrate knowledge of the Patriot Act and its impact on law enforcement, civil society, and counter-terror efforts.
Demonstrate knowledge of the concept of "Internal Discipline."
Differentiate between politically motivated terrorist activity and that motivated by religious beliefs.
Identify the sources of funding for various terrorist organizations.
Diagram the organizational structure of various terrorist organizations.
Compare and contrast Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah.
Describe the behavioral and socio-economic profile of the typical suicide bomber.
Appraise current counter-terror efforts in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Prerequisites

SECR 5000 (for SECR majors only). Students in other degree programs are welcome to take this elective without the prerequisite. It is assumed the student has adequate writing and analytical skills. Also, as for all Internet courses, the student must be disciplined and self-motivated.

Course Materials

Please go to MBS Direct to find the appropriate textbooks for this course.

Please be aware when purchasing your textbooks that the International versions of the text may differ from the Domestic (North American) version required for your course.

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Course Activities

The course will be conducted entirely online. The course activities revolve around a weekly facilitated discussion of instructor provided current event articles, assigned readings, and lecture notes provided by the instructor. Assessment of learning will be accomplished through evaluation of weekly class participation via threaded discussions, four written essay assignments, and midterm and final research papers. Students are expected to participate in all course activities as assigned by the instructor.

Policy Statements

University policies are provided in the current course catalog and course schedules. They are also available on the university website. This class is governed by the university's published policies. The following policies are of particular interest:

Academic Honesty:
The university is committed to high standards of academic honesty. Students will be held responsible for violations of these standards. The university reserves the right to utilize electronic databases, such as Turnitin.com, to assist faculty and students with their academic work. Please refer to the university's academic honesty policies for a definition of academic dishonesty and potential disciplinary actions associated with it.

Drops and Withdrawals:
Please be aware that, should you choose to drop or withdraw from this course, the date on which you notify the university of your decision will determine the amount of tuition refund you receive. Please refer to the university policies on drops and withdrawals (published elsewhere) to find out what the deadlines are for dropping a course with a full refund and for withdrawing from a course with a partial refund.

Disturbances:
Since every student is entitled to full participation in class without interruption, disruption of class by inconsiderate behavior is not acceptable. Students are expected to treat the instructor and other students with dignity and respect, especially in cases where a diversity of opinion arises. Students who engage in disruptive behavior are subject to disciplinary action, including removal from the course.

Student Assignments Retained:
>From time to time, the department will retain student assignments or projects for the purpose of academic assessment. In every case, should the assignment or project be shared outside the academic department, the student's name and all identifying information about that student will be redacted from the assignment or project.

This syllabus is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor.

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