Waves of Global Terrorism: From 1879 to the Present

Terrorism is a persistent form of political violence that has risen and fallen in recurrent generation-long spasms, with past outbreaks tending to come in waves. David C. Rapoport, a preeminent scholar of political violence, identifies and analyzes four distinct waves of global terrorism, including anarchists, anticolonialists, New Left movements, and religious movements. He examines the dynamics of each wave, contrasting their tactics, targets, and goals and placing them in the context of the much longer history of terrorism.

Format: Hardback
Length: 448 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Terrorism is a persistent form of political violence that appears intermittently, afflicting certain places in certain eras while others remain unscathed. Since the late nineteenth century, it has risen and fallen in recurrent generation-long spasms, in which hundreds of short-lived groups wreak havoc. The reasons behind past outbreaks of terror have tended to come in waves, and understanding this pattern can shed light on future threats.

David C. Rapoport, a preeminent scholar of political violence, identifies and analyzes four distinct waves of global terrorism. He examines the dynamics of each wave, contrasting their tactics, targets, and goals and placing them in the context of the much longer history of terrorism.

Global terror emerged in the 1880s after technological changes transformed communication and transportation, and dynamite enabled individuals or small groups to carry out bombings. A first wave of anarchists assassinated prominent figures in what they called "propaganda of the deed." This was followed by a second wave of anticolonial terrorism that arose in the British Empire in the 1920s. Beginning in the 1960s, a third wave of New Left movements took hostages and hijacked airplanes. Most recently, religious movements, mostly but not entirely in the Islamic world, have constituted a fourth wave, pioneering self-martyrdom or suicide bombing.

Rapoport also considers whether a fifth wave of anti-immigrant or white supremacist terror is emerging today. Waves of Global Terrorism makes a major contribution to our understanding of the roots of contemporary terrorism.

In conclusion, terrorism is a complex and persistent form of political violence that has evolved over centuries. Understanding the patterns and dynamics of past outbreaks of terror can help us anticipate and respond to future threats. Rapoport's analysis of four distinct waves of global terrorism provides valuable insights into the roots of contemporary terrorism and its potential future directions.

Weight: 738g
Dimension: 160 x 237 x 32 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231133029