Encyclopedia of Terrorism

Harvey W Kushner

Language: English

Publisher: SAGE Publications

Published: Dec 4, 2002

Description:

"The most comprehensive and up-to-date work available on this subject…Essential for all academic and larger public libraries."
--LIBRARY JOURNAL

The Encyclopedia of Terrorism presents authoritative coverage of what is currently one of the world′s most important topics. With more than 300 articles, the Encyclopedia provides detailed discussions of the who, what, where, when, and why of terrorism. Up-to-date and timely, the articles cover such topics as Al-Qaeda, biological terrorism, extremism, Saddam Hussein, jihad, Zacarias Moussaoui, and suicide bombers. Its concise, readable format and detailed chronology, photographs, maps, and charts make this an essential reference.

An internationally recognized expert on terrorism, Harvey Kushner has studied terrorism for more than three decades. He serves as a consultant on terrorism for a broad array of governmental and private agencies. In addition, his commentary appears regularly on Fox National News, CNN, the British Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio, Voice of America, and in articles in Reuters, The Associated Press, the Washington Post , and other newspapers and magazines worldwide. His expertise ensures that the entries, including contributions by other authorities in the field, are of the highest quality.

Key Features:

  • More than 300 authoritative, in-depth articles
  • Extensive, balanced coverage of terrorist groups (such as the IRA), key events (including September 11), people, terms, and statistics, as well as biographical, historical, and geographical information
  • Cross-references to related entries at the end of each article
  • Comprehensive, global coverage
  • Valuable appendices include: list of government organizations, list of terrorist organizations, list of well known female terrorists, detailed list of further readings

Recommended Libraries

Public, academic, school, government, special, and private/corporate

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-According to the preface, work on this exhaustive reference was begun a year before the September 11th attacks. The broad focus is on terror incidents both past and present, which are defined by three factors: "method- target- and the purpose." Kushner has gathered the type of information for which teen researchers are clamoring: biographies of key individuals, the histories of various terrorist groups both foreign and domestic, and a full discussion of specific incidents. Some of the latter may be difficult to find; for example, the siege at the Branch Davidian complex is found under "Waco"; there is a see reference from "David Koresh," but not from "Branch Davidian." The search for information, however, is aided by a comprehensive index. There are few illustrations, all of them in black and white. A "Reader's Guide" at the front of the volume gives broad subject headings to follow. Appendixes include maps that pinpoint terrorist incidents, a good list of Web sites, a valuable chronology of attacks in the U.S. and on U.S. interests abroad, and a lengthy bibliography. This work is ideal for libraries looking for a one-volume reference on this timely topic.
Elizabeth M. Reardon, McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Although there is coverage of groups such as the Irish Republican Army and events such as the Munich Olympics massacre, the emphasis of this book is on terrorism in, or against, the U.S. In 300 A-Z entries Kushner, a well-respected researcher in this area, covers terrorist-related events, groups, individuals, methods, activities, and responses. Although he began work on the book a year prior to the events of September 11, 2001, he writes in his introduction that those events made the need for an authoritative reference source on terrorism more urgent, and many of the entries are connected to 9/11.

Entries generally range in length from half a page to three pages and include further readings. There is good basic coverage of internal American terror activities, including those by ecoterrorists, anticommunist Cubans, antiabortionists, and white supremacist groups. Cross-references help to direct reading within the text. Following the encyclopedia portion of the volume are several appendixes, including maps showing the locations of various terrorist events and a chronology of attacks on U.S. interests at home and abroad. The chronology lists as terrorism the assassinations of President William McKinley, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert Kennedy, but not that of President John Kennedy. An excellent bibliography lists a great deal of extended reading. A reasonable collection of Web sites gives a variety of news, research, and government sites; a nice addition to this list would be Web sites that offer dissenting and terrorist group views on their actions. A "Reader's Guide" at the front of the volume sorts entry headings into 32 categories, from "Abu Nidal Organization" to "World Trade Center Bombing, February 1993."

Encyclopedia of World Terrorism: 1996-2002 [RBB Ag 03] is more international in scope. Although its global coverage is not comprehensive, Encyclopedia of Terrorism is a solid piece of work with thorough coverage of U.S. terror groups of all varieties. It is worthwhile for its coverage of the topic and is recommended for academic and public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Kushner (chair, criminal justice, Long Island Univ.), a noted terrorism expert and frequent guest on CNN, CNBC, and Fox News, here provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date work available on this subject. Begun a year before the 9/11 disaster, this guide presents more than 300 article-length entries, arranged alphabetically and covering such topics as terrorist groups, key terrorists, types of terrorism, and terrorist events (including 9/11). The work begins with an alphabetical list of entries, which are then categorized into 32 general topics in a handy reader’s guide. In the entries themselves, Kushner (along with a number of expert contributors) provides a solid, powerful collection of timely data on the who, what, where, when, and why of international terrorism. Each entry contains many cross references and a detailed list of suggested further readings, augmented by a large bibliography. The text is further enhanced by the addition of photographs and world maps highlighted with terror sites. Beyond its ample information on the Middle East, the book ranges worldwide to include profiles of animal rights activists, anti-abortion activists, and white supremacists. Finally, Kushner adds a useful chronological listing of key terrorist activities, beginning with the 1865 formation of the KKK and ending with the October 12, 2002 bombing in Bali. Kushner’s work easily updates Alex P. Schmid’s Political Terrorism, although Schmid’s bibliography is larger (but now dated), and greatly expands Harry Henderson’s Library in a Book: Terrorism. Essential for all academic and larger public libraries. -- LIBRARY JOURNAL, January 2003

“Thoroughly researched and corroborated, Kushner’s book is an excellent addition to the many books published since September 11. Highly recommended.” -- CHOICE

“Kushner has gathered the type of information for which teen researchers are clamoring: biographies of key individuals, the histories of various terrorist groups both foreign and domestic, and a full discussion of specific incidents. . . . This work is ideal for libraries looking for a one-volume reference on this timely topic.” -- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

“It is rare to find a reference volume both as timely and as well done as this effort. Considering the importance of its subject, its global and historical coverage, and its value to researchers, students, the general reader, and law enforcement, this book is a must for every library.” -- Reference & User Services Quarterly, American Library Association

"From antiabortion and animal rights groups to separatist movements and white supremacist groups, Kushner explains the origins, motivations and activities of terrorist organizations. . . . While by no means exhaustive, Kushner′s guide will provide an excellent starting point for students and is far superior to much that was rushed into print in the wake of 9/11. This title is suitable for high school, public and academic libraries. " -- John R.M. Lawrence, Reference Librarian ― Lawrence Looks at Books Published On: 2003-03-01

About the Author

Harvey W. Kushner (Ph.D., New York University) is Professor and Chair of the Department of Criminal Justice at Long Island University. An internationally recognized authority on terrorism, Kushner has shared his expertise with government agencies, including the FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and U.S. Customs. He also worked for the U.S. Probation Department as an analyst for criminal investigations, intelligence, and terrorism. He has advised and lectured on matters of international terrorism at the Naval War College, the FBI Academy, the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, and the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, among others. Kushner has experience with a variety of high-profile court cases involving international terrorism, including those involving the World Trade Center attacks. After the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, Kushner was asked to testify on terrorism and safety in New York City’s public spaces before the Committee of Public Safety of the Council of the City of New York. He was invited by 9/11 Commission to participate in a VIP-briefing before the release of its final report, and he appeared as a terrorism expert before the DHS’s Homeland Security Advisory Council. A variety of publications, including the New York Times , have called Kushner the “go-to-expert” for plain talk about the subject of terrorism. He can be seen regularly on CNN, the Fox News Channel, and MSNBC and in articles in the Associated Press, the Washington Post , and the New York Times. A widely published and best-selling author, Kushner’s work includes Holy War on the Home Front: The Secret Islamic Terror Network in the United States and the Encyclopedia of Terrorism , considered the gold-standard of terrorism reference works. As a member of the working press, Kushner is an associate editor for the Airport Press and writes a column about aviation security. Dr. Kushner’s career as a college administrator and professor spans more than three decades.