Toward a Criminology of Terrorism

The study of terrorism has become a major focus in criminology, with research appearing in mainstream journals, college courses, and dissertations. This book explores similarities and differences between terrorism and ordinary crime, comparing empirical data on terrorist attacks to more ordinary crimes.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 75 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The study of terrorism has emerged as a significant turning point in the field of criminology during the twenty-first century. In a remarkably short span of two decades, research on terrorism and political extremism has transitioned from a relatively niche area to a widely recognized specialization within the discipline. Today, terrorism research finds its place in nearly all mainstream criminology journals, and college courses on terrorism and political violence have become an integral part of criminology curricula across numerous institutions. Moreover, an increasing number of criminology students are opting for terrorism as a topic for their class papers, research projects, theses, and dissertations.

The primary objective of this book is to examine the similarities and differences between terrorism and more conventional forms of crime. It delves into the ways in which criminology has contributed to the study of terrorism and explores the impact of the growing interest in terrorism on the field. Additionally, this element provides empirical comparisons of terrorist attacks to more ordinary crimes and criminal offenders, shedding light on the unique characteristics and challenges associated with terrorism.

This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core, ensuring widespread access to academic research and knowledge.

ISBN-13: 9781108986632