The issue of international terrorism is difficult to ignore, confronting us daily in the media and dominating the political landscape. Many people fear its ability to impact on their lives, with one in seven UK adults fearful of having children due to the threat of terrorism. This book looks at what kinds of terrorism exist and why, at the impacts of terrorism, current trends in political violence and at the media focus on terrorism – does this help or hinder counter-terrorist measures?
The information comes from a wide range of sources and includes government reports and statistics, newspaper reports, features, magazine articles and surveys, literature from lobby groups and charitable organisations.
Chapter One: Terrorism
Classifying terrorism, Security and terrorism in the UK, History of terrorism, Timeline: terrorism threats to the UK, Facts and figures, Head of MI5: terror threat is growing, Terrorists and the Internet, We are offering the terrorist a megaphone, Fear of terrorism, New UK terror threat from foreign students, Islam, terrorism and September 11, Young, British Muslims ‘getting more radical’, The hijacking of British Islam, Race relations 2006, Public turns on animal terrorists, Animal rights terrorism is on the increase, The truth about ‘animal rights terrorism’.
Chapter Two: Tackling Terrorism
How do we counter terrorism?, Terrorism Act 2006, Counter-terrorism strategy, FAQ about the terrorist threat, Major increase in work to tackle violent extremism, Racial profiling and anti-terror stop and search, A humane way to fight terrorism.
Key Facts
Glossary
Index
Additional Resources
Acknowledgements
Key Facts
• As a result of modern transportation, communication and access to resources, terrorism is becoming an ever-increasing threat. Terrorists are not recognised as belonging to any army and seek to weaken or supplant existing political landscapes for political, nationalist or religious goals using violence and intimidation. (page 2)
• MI5 investigates threats to the UK by gathering, analysing and assessing intelligence. 87 per cent of MI5 resources work on counter-terrorism and protective security. (page 2)
• Violent acts on behalf of political change are as old as human history. For example, the Sicarii were a first-century Jewish group who murdered enemies and collaborators in their campaign to oust their Roman rulers from Judea. (page 4)
• 51% of people surveyed by Ipsos MORI in July 2005 felt that it was very likely London would experience another terrorist attack in the near future, compared to 43% surveyed in September 2005. (page 6)
• 51% of people surveyed by Ipsos MORI in the September following the London bombings of 7 July 2005 felt that it was unacceptable to allow the police to have a ‘shoot to kill’ policy for suspected terrorists. 45% felt that it was acceptable. (page 7)
• 70% of people taking part in a global issues survey by the Mental Health Foundation named terrorism as their biggest worry, ahead of immigration, climate change, natural disasters and the spread of nuclear weapons. (page 12)
• Extremist behaviour by animal rights protesters has had the effect of increasing public support for testing new medical treatments on animals, a poll for the Daily Telegraph has found. (page 20)
• 77% of people surveyed by YouGov felt that it was fair to describe animal rights activitists engaging in extreme acts such as death threats, planting bombs and digging up human remains for the purposes of intimidation as ‘terrorists’. (page 25)
• 73% of UK voters agreed that the government should put combating terrorism ahead of concerns for civil liberties, and give police whatever powers they need. 21% did not agree, according to a Populus poll. (page 30)
The Terrorism Problem Study Guide
Each book in the Issues series has a study guide. These four-page guides provide a variety of discussion points and other activities to suit a wide range of ability levels and interests.
Publisher: Independence Educational Publishers
Price: £1.50
ISBN: 978 1 86168 446 2 |
