CRIM 475: Theory and Politics of Terrorism
CRIM 475-003: Theory/Politics of Terrorism
(Fall 2026)
07:20 PM to 08:35 PM TR
Krug Hall 242
Section Information for Fall 2026
This course will introduce students to the phenomena of contemporary terrorism and extremism. Emphasis will be placed on extremism as a foundation for terrorist behavior, types of terrorism, and how governments and law enforcement agencies respond to terrorism. In light of domestic terrorist incidents in Oklahoma City, on September 11, 2001, the Fort Hood incident, the Boston Marathon bombing, the San Bernardino attack, and the mass shootings in Orlando and Pittsburgh, this course will also weave a thread of American perspectives and extremist literature throughout the semester. The role of law enforcement and other public administrative agencies will be highlighted.
The course is organized into three thematic sections:
Part 1 provides a conceptual context for understanding terrorism.
Part 2 investigates terrorist environments, including states and groups.
Part 3 focuses on counterterrorism, homeland security, and the future of terrorism.
The primary goal of this course is to give you an understanding of the motives, origins, and rationales for extremist beliefs and terrorist behavior, as well as how governments respond to these phenomena. You will be challenged to critically assess extremist ideology and the practice of terrorism. You will also be challenged to evaluate the notion that the practice of terrorism is limited exclusively to the "lunatic fringe" - indeed, is one person's terrorist another person's freedom fighter? After participating in this course, you will:
• Analyze how American public administrative agencies, particularly law enforcement and national security agencies, deal with the problems of domestic and international hate crimes and terrorism.
• Understand the underlying theories that explain the origins of extremist beliefs, and how one should define “terrorism.”
• Apply theory and cases to differentiate terrorism from above (state terrorism) and terrorism from below (dissident terrorism).
• Remember, and demonstrate familiarity with, the different types of terrorism.
• Evaluate references from American cases of extremism and terrorism toward developing a global framework for understanding extremist beliefs, and terrorist behaviors, in other countries and cultures.
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Course Information from the University Catalog
Credits: 3
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.
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