Saul, B. (2006). Defining terrorism in international law. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Saul explores the problem of defining terrorism in international law. Since the 1920’s, there have been numerous unsuccessful attempts by the international community to define and criminalize terrorism. To address this problem, Saul begins by analyzing the rationales for defining and criminalizing terrorism based on four major categories: human rights law, threat to democracy, international security, and political violence. After reviewing these issues, he examines potential justifications for terrorist violence and looks at past efforts to define terrorism. Saul illustrates through a comprehensive review of international treaties that the international
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Terrorist groups have adopted strategies to fund and resource their activities with varying results, from those that are living day-to-day, to successful terrorist groups, like Al Qaeda, who are part of multinational corporations. As this is an area of research on terrorism that has been sorely neglected, Vittori specifically chooses to focus on how terrorist groups acquire financing and resources to sustain themselves. Throughout the book, Vittori provides useful insights into the process of globalization that supports evolving terrorist groups, and creates a theoretical frame that is superior to currently held notions of terrorist institutions. He suggests that terrorism financing has evolved over the years and has developed into what he terms the “seven category typology of terrorist resourcing”. He illustrates these classifications using case studies for each category, based on actual examples of terrorism that have occurred throughout history. Vittori concludes with the note that there is no way to truly stop terrorism resourcing and the solution would require an in-depth analysis of each individual terrorist group in order to uncover their specific …show more content…
Instead of examining why individuals may leave their careers in terrorism, the book aims to analyze how terrorist groups as a whole are defeated, or end up defeating themselves. There has been a great deal of research dedicated to the actions of terrorist groups and motivations underlying terrorism. In contrast, the author argues that there is much more to learn from the history of how and why groups have failed, as this can yield insights into common patterns and tendencies of terrorist groups. With an understanding of the workings of terrorist groups, one can recognize patterns and effectively deal with problems as they arise. This book concludes that terrorism will never entirely disappear, as it is a tactic that that can be employed by a number of ideologies and groups to further their interests. As such, it is important to understand the intricacies present in the rise and fall of terrorists groups, in order to effectively develop countermeasures to minimize its
Terrorist groups have adopted strategies to fund and resource their activities with varying results, from those that are living day-to-day, to successful terrorist groups, like Al Qaeda, who are part of multinational corporations. As this is an area of research on terrorism that has been sorely neglected, Vittori specifically chooses to focus on how terrorist groups acquire financing and resources to sustain themselves. Throughout the book, Vittori provides useful insights into the process of globalization that supports evolving terrorist groups, and creates a theoretical frame that is superior to currently held notions of terrorist institutions. He suggests that terrorism financing has evolved over the years and has developed into what he terms the “seven category typology of terrorist resourcing”. He illustrates these classifications using case studies for each category, based on actual examples of terrorism that have occurred throughout history. Vittori concludes with the note that there is no way to truly stop terrorism resourcing and the solution would require an in-depth analysis of each individual terrorist group in order to uncover their specific …show more content…
Instead of examining why individuals may leave their careers in terrorism, the book aims to analyze how terrorist groups as a whole are defeated, or end up defeating themselves. There has been a great deal of research dedicated to the actions of terrorist groups and motivations underlying terrorism. In contrast, the author argues that there is much more to learn from the history of how and why groups have failed, as this can yield insights into common patterns and tendencies of terrorist groups. With an understanding of the workings of terrorist groups, one can recognize patterns and effectively deal with problems as they arise. This book concludes that terrorism will never entirely disappear, as it is a tactic that that can be employed by a number of ideologies and groups to further their interests. As such, it is important to understand the intricacies present in the rise and fall of terrorists groups, in order to effectively develop countermeasures to minimize its