Matthew Lippman
Criminal Justice 423
VIOLENCE: TERRORISM AND AMERICA
Professor Matthew Lippman
Teaching Assistant Rebecca Maniglia
Course Description
The University of Illinois at Chicago’s College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences and Department of Justice has organized this course on terrorism
in response to the events of September 11, 2001. The class, therefore,
has two primary aspirations. First, we hope to present the fundamental
concepts, theories, and background information pertaining to terrorism
in general and secondly to highlight the contemporary issues and challenges
that confront the United States, the global community and those of us
in the class, particularly as they relate to tensions and activity in
the Middle East.
Philosophical Perspective
The fluidity of the current crisis necessitates an elastic and flexible
approach to the course. We anticipate that the class schedule, readings
and assignments may be altered or modified in response to unfolding events.
Therefore, the syllabus should be viewed as only a tentative schedule.
The course is designed as a survey of pertinent issues. Any investigation
of terrorism is necessarily inter-disciplinary, and complete coverage
must entail a broad examination of the socio-economic, political and cultural
structures of global society. We have attempted to strike a balance between
this broad approach and one that is more narrow and specific. Some of
you may find the course constrained and cramped; others broad and amorphous.
As a senior level course, we will stress individual initiative, research
and expression in response to the material. The success of this course
ultimately depends upon our collective energy and enthusiasm.
We aspire to be neutral and objective in the presentation of material,
presenting various viewpoints on most topics. We are also committed to
provoking thought and reflection, and therefore, our responses to questions
or comment in class should not be assumed to reflect our personal views.
Likewise, in your own written work, you will be evaluated on your ability
to understand the perspectives presented as well as on the quality and
logic of your arguments regardless of your personal or political perspectives.
We understand that this topic is fraught with issues and concerns that
may offend cultural and religious sensitivities. The very choice and organization
of topics reflects our biases and points of view. We would ask that you
exercise a welcoming and sensitive approach to the many perspectives presented
and those expressed by your fellow students. Please approach us with your
concerns.
We are committed to creating a "learning community” and your
assistance as students is encouraged in asking to address particular topics,
recommending guest speakers or films and in organizing class projects.
The podium is always open to all serious points of view that advance the
class by providing insight into relevant issues. Through Rebecca’s
previous contact with another university effort, students will also have
the opportunity to exchange questions and perspectives with college students
at Bir Zeit University in Ramallah who are participating in an internet
listserv. with Rebecca and with other students at UIC.
Reasonable accommodations will also be made for students registered with
the UIC Office of Disability Services, and every effort will be made to
accommodate religious holidays and obligations and/or documented personal
emergencies.
We look forward to the semester and will make every effort to ensure an
interesting and invigorating class.
Required Books and Readings
We will specify the relevant readings prior to each session and will detail
the material that will be included on the final. You should concentrate
on mastering the topics covered in class rather than preparing for an
up-coming session.
You will have three texts from which regular readings are required throughout
the semester. This syllabus also provides additional web-based resources
that you are encouraged to read both for a more complete grasp of the
material and as resources for the essays required throughout the class.
Laqueur, Walter. 1999. The New Terrorism. Oxford University Press.
--well-written coverage of the changing nature of international terrorism
Stern, Jessica. 1999. The Ultimate Terrorists. Harvard University Press.
--an introduction to the looming threat of weapons of mass destruction
White, Jonathan R. 2002. Terrorism: An Introduction. Wadsworth Thompson
Learning.
--a solid text that should be utilized as a basic reference tool
The White volume also is integrated with http://infotrac.thomsonlearning.com.
The password accompanies the book. This site is awkwardly organized, but
provides articles and links on a wide-range of topics. We have found the
site to be uneven in quality, but encourage you consult this resource.
As stated before, the rapid unfolding of events necessitates supplementing
these texts with articles and reports on the internet. We have attempted
to provide you with sources ranging from the elemental to the esoteric.
The pertinent internet sites post material on a daily basis and there
undoubtedly are significant articles and documents which have not been
included on the syllabus. You should feel free to supplement the reading
and to call pertinent essays and sites to our attention. Relevant material
also will be distributed in class.
General Resources
There is an impressive amount of information about terrorism on the web.
We have provided some basic resources below, and you can find others by
using a search engine. It is also common for sites to be linked to one
another.
American Society of International law,
Center for
Strategic Education,
Centre
for the Study of Terrorism, University of St. Andrews,
Federation of American Scientists,
International Policy Institute for Counter-Terrorism,
Oklahoma City National Memorial Institute,
Public Broadcasting System,
Rand Corporation,
South Asia Terrorism Portal,
Terrorism Research Center,
United States Institute of Peace,
University of Michigan Documents Center: American's War On Terrorism,
United States Department of State International Information Program