Terrorism

The first comprehensive discussion of all the main philosophical issues raised by terrorism against the background of its past and recent developments. Prominent philosophers discuss definitions of terrorism, various approaches to its moral evaluation, and the contentious subject of state terrorism. Also included are four case studies, showing how the concepts and arguments philosophers deploy in discussing violence, war and terrorism apply to particular instances of both insurgent and state terrorism, ranging from World War II to September 11, 2001.

Introduction Acknowledgements PART I: DEFINITIONS Defining Terrorism; C. A. J. Coady What is Terrorism? ; I. Primoratz PART II: JUSTIFICATIONS A Defense of the 'Red Terror'; L. Trotsky The Burdens of Terrorism: N. Fotion Political Terrorism as a Weapon of the Politically Powerless; R. Young Terrorism, Rights and Political Goals; V. Held Terrorism, Morality and Supreme Emergency; C. A. J. Coady How Can Terrorism Be Justified? ; U. Steinhoff PART III: STATE TERRORISM State Terrorism and Counterterrorism; I. Primoratz The Evolution of the Modern Terrorist State; D. Lackey PART IV: CASE STUDIES Terror Bombing of German Cities in World War II; S. A. Garrett Terrorism in Northern Ireland; P. Simpson Terrorism in the Israeli-Arab Conflict; T. Kapitan The Catastrophe of September 11 and its Aftermath; B. M. Leiser Bibliography Index