Course Details Language of Instruction English Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree Department / Program Political Science and International Relations Type of Program Formal Education Type of Course Unit Elective Course Delivery Method Face To Face Objectives of the Course This course aims to have students understand political violence, radicalization, terrorism, and countering instruments against terrorism. The objectives are: 1. Introduce key concepts and theories of political violence and terrorism. 2. Examine the historical evolution and waves of modern terrorism. 3. Analyze terrorist strategies, tactics, and causes across psychological, sociological, political, and economic dimensions. 4. Explore the relationship between radicalization and terrorism. 5. Evaluate counterterrorism strategies used by states and international organizations. 6. Apply theoretical knowledge to case studies of contemporary terrorism and counterterrorism efforts. Course Content The course provides basic foundations of political violence and terrorism. After beginning with conceptual discussions, the course will be followed by the historical antecedents and waves of modern terrorism. Strategic and tactical approaches and instruments employed by terrorist organizations will be next topics of the course. Firstly, the protracted popular war/rural based insurgency, urban warfare, military-focused strategies will be brought up, then the changing tactics and targets of terrorist organizations to be covered. The causes of terrorism emanated from psychological, sociological, political, historical, and economical grievances will be analyzed through five levels of analysis as individual, group, organization, state, international system. The course will continue by studying on the relation between political radicalization and terrorism. Counterterrorism strategies and instruments employed by states and international organizations will be the last topic for lecturing. The course will be complemented through the case analysis on contemporary terrorist organizations and counterterrorism strategies of states. Course Methods and Techniques Lecture Discussion based lecture Case study Prerequisites and co-requisities None Course Coordinator None Name of Lecturers Prof.Dr. Cenker Korhan DEMİR Assistants None Work Placement(s) No Recommended or Required Reading Resources Thomas P. Thornton (1964). ‘Terror as a Weapon of Political Agitation’, Herry Eckstein (ed.), Internal War: Problems and Approaches (New York: The Free Press), pp. 41-63. Charles Kegley (ed.), The New Global Terrorism (New Jersey: Pearson), pp.36-50. Louise Richardson (2006). What Terrorists Want (New York: Random House). Clark McCauley and Sophia Moskalenko. (2008). ‘Mechanisms of Political Radicalization: Pathways to Terrorism,’ Terrorism and Political Violence 20(3), pp. 415-433. Fathali M. Moghaddam (2005). ‘The Staircase to Terrorism,’ American Psychologist 60(2), pp. 161-169. Bard E. O’Neill (2005). Insurgency & Terrorism (Washington: Potomac Books). Paul R. Pillar (2003). Terrorism and U.S. Foreign Policy(Washington: Brookings Institution), pp. 73-129. Course Notes A minimum attendance of 70% is required for this course. Students are expected to focus solely on course-related activities during class sessions. Active participation will positively contribute to the final grade.