This book explores modern Islamic terrorism in the context of globalization and cultural evolution. 21st century terrorism is different and new, first because it relies heavily on electronic communication systems and other aspects of modern technologies, and second, because it is in large part a product of fractured globalization, with its associated threats to the collective identity of Muslims. Part one of this work contrasts globalization as an ideal with globalization as it is actually taking place, with its enormous contradictions and threats. Moghaddam, a longtime and highly respected terrorism and conflict researcher, argues that globalization is resulting in serious threats to the basic psychological needs of some, particularly in connection with collective identity. Part two explores how globalization has brought sudden contact between different groups with no previous history of large-scale contact, resulting in a rapid decline in diversity. Terrorism is one of the dysfunctional defense mechanisms of people in such conditions, facing external threats. Part three describes long-term solutions, focusing particularly on the role of women and the nature of the family in traditional Islamic societies. Moghaddam shows us why globalization is resulting in what he calls catastrophic evolution, the rapid decline and disappearance of minority cultures and languages, and why that brings a clash of ideologies and the rise of extremism. There are also other dangerous trends, and those call for inspired solutions, springing from an understanding that traditional conflict-resolution, evolved in the shadow of the Cold War, is no longer effective and needs to change.

A specter haunts America, the specter of Global Jihad, Islamic Holy War. This specter was never more horrific than on September 11, 2001, when nineteen fanatics hijacked four jetliners and used them as guided missiles to destroy the twin World Trade Towers, damage the Pentagon, murder nearly 3,000 people, and cause as much as several hundred billion dollars’ worth of direct and indirect damage to New York City and the national economy. But Jihadists have periodically attacked Americans ever since November 1979, when mobs shouting death to America overran the American embassy in Tehran and held 52 officials hostage for 444 days. President George W. Bush responded to the September 11 atrocities by declaring a global war on terror. Now in its second decade, that war has cost the United States thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. Americans are haunted by horrific televised images from across a swath of the Muslim world of bomb-blasted cities, hundreds of slaughtered bodies, thousands of refugees huddled in squalid camps, and American journalists in orange jump suits kneeling in the desert before the black robed and masked men who will behead them. Americans increasingly question whether the global war on terror has been worth those costs for their own nation and the lands where it is fought. This book analyzes America’s crusade against Jihadism. The key related questions it addresses are these: Looking back, what were the successes and failures of Washington’s counter-Jihadist strategy before and after September 11? Looking ahead, should Americans stay the course or cut their losses in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere? Was the catastrophic September 11 attack a one-time event or could its equivalent or worse in death and destruction happen again? Renowned Harvard professor Samuel Huntington asserted that: “The underlying problem for the West is not Islamic fundamentalism, it is Islam, a different civilization, whose people are convinced of the superiority of their culture and are obsessed with the inferiority of their power.” Is that true? Just what of Muhammad’s words and deeds, if any, justifies the barbarism of al Qaeda, Islamic State, and other Jihadists? Finally, just how corporeal is that specter of global Jihad to the United States? A startling surprise awaits the reader in the final chapter as acclaimed expert William Nester weighs the specter of global Jihad against an array of other national security threats.

Violent behavior has become deeply integrated into modern society and it is an unavoidable aspect of human nature. Examining peacemaking strategies through a critical and academic perspective can assist in resolving violence in societies around the world. The Handbook of Research on Examining Global Peacemaking in the Digital Age is a pivotal reference source for the latest research findings on the utilization of peacemaking in media, leadership, and religion. Featuring extensive coverage on relevant areas such as human rights, spirituality, and the Summer of Peace, this publication is an ideal resource for policymakers, universities and colleges, graduate-level students, and organizations seeking current research on the application of conflict resolution and international negotiation.

A noted conflict expert shows how accelerating globalization is causing dangerous global insecurity that must be met by new security models and policies. The New Global Insecurity: How Terrorism, Environmental Collapse, Economic Inequalities, and Resource Shortages Are Changing Our World explores insecurity arising out of accelerating globalization. In this unique and forward-thinking work, psychologist Fathali M. Moghaddam, director of the Conflict Studies Program at Georgetown University, explains how and why worldwide insecurity is rising and what steps we must take to quell or reverse that insecurity to make the future of the world more peaceful. The book first analyzes the elements and roots of global insecurity, discussing it in relation to terrorism, torture, economic instability, threatened identity, and religious fundamentalism. It then puts forward a new model for understanding security, wherein "soft security capital" serves as the enabling condition for "hard security capital." Finally, the current policies for managing diversity, "multiculturalism" and "assimilation" are both rejected in favor of an exciting new policy—"omniculturalism". Drawing on his years of study and expertise, Moghaddam likewise proposes a new policy for better managing intergroup relations in an insecure age.

An international, multi-disciplinary team explores the many different facets of terrorism, investigating what it means to be a terrorist and what terrorism means for society. Gets closer to the perspectives of terrorists - their views, how their acts are conceptualized by the public and by national leaders, and how this knowledge can be put to use Brings together international experts from psychology, psychiatry, law and policing Edited by one of the world’s foremost forensic psychology experts, David Canter

This book examines the twin phenomena of radicalization and de-radicalization in a global context of political extremism and violent conflict, focusing on the approaches of governments in how they use counterterrorism to respond to radicalization and extremism. By using case studies and comparative analysis, the authors’ analysis of both Western and non-Western examples focuses on both theoretical components and practical aspects of the deradicalization process. Subjects covered include the historical context, the contemporary situation, and case studies that illustrate these aspects in different countries and across borders. The conclusions drawn also provide readers with examples of the potential solutions that states have adopted to mitigate the threats and reintegrate extreme militants into society and create a more stable world in which violent conflict is lessened.

Human beings indeed need not justify terrorism of any kind, regardless of whether one is Muslim, Christian or Jew, because it is the axis of evil and devastation of mankind. Terrorism on Africa has been a ubiquitous presence against which the democratic values of African civilization are ranged-a demon to be exorcised at all costs, even at the cost of civil liberties. However, the deliberate use of the term terrorism in recent decades was carefully selected, mainly, against a certain religion (Islam). The idea was then globally politicized by the Western world. Leaving that scholarly view in its own right, this study disagrees with the opinion raising terrorism as the devil's just-born child of evil, when in reality Africans had been terrorized for centuries as slaves and human chattel, colonies, neo-colonies and captives of globalism. Terrorism on Africa has been the global threat against which global war must now be fought. It should have never taken place anyway! Whether the terrorizing country was peaceful or violent, no country should be granted the right to seize and restrict the development of a region. Europeans have crippled the rich native African civilizations for their own political and economic gain for centuries. No matter the reason, no intelligence, knowledge, or technology permits one country or countries to terrorize another or other countries like the terrorized and victimized in Africa. Africans must disable and counter propaganda and information operations. We must address known causal factors by strengthening vulnerable populations and improving their ability to identify, characterize, attribute, and defend against terror networks and threats. Our counter-terrorism architectures and capabilities will need to be more agile and more integrated. Mankind needs a common strategy. Understanding this complex terrorist environment will require mature global networks and effective links with interagency teammates and partner nations-allowing rapid synchronization of information across agency, regional, national, and international boundaries in order to dismantle the sustained multi-faceted terrorism on Africa.