Why Terrorism Works: Understanding the Threat, Responding to the Challenge - Softcover

Dershowitz, Alan M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0300101538 ISBN 13: 9780300101539

Publisher: Yale University Press, 2003

Synopsis

One of America’s most distinguished defenders of civil liberties presents measures that will prevent terrorism and still uphold our democratic values

The greatest danger facing the world today, says Alan M. Dershowitz, comes from religiously inspired, state sponsored terrorist groups that seek to develop weapons of mass destruction for use against civilian targets. In his newest book, Dershowitz argues passionately and persuasively that global terrorism is a phenomenon largely of our own making and that we must and can take steps to reduce the frequency and severity of terrorist acts. Analyzing recent acts of terrorism and our reaction to them, Dershowitz explains that terrorism is successful when the international community gives in to the demands of terrorists—or even tries to understand and eliminate the “root causes” of terrorism. He discusses extreme approaches to wiping out international terrorism that would work if we were not constrained by legal, moral, and humanitarian considerations. And then, given that we do operate under such constraints, he offers a series of proposals that would effectively reduce the frequency and severity of international terrorism by striking a balance between security and liberty.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

"Perhaps America's most brilliant public intellectual, Alan Dershowitz attacks the central challenge of our times-terrorism-with ruthless honesty and striking originality, delivered in a narrative so compelling that the pages seem to turn themselves."-Richard North Patterson, author of Protect and Defend; "Critical reading for anyone interested in the legacy terrorism has left us, how our previous weak responses have encouraged more of it, and how we can end it."-William J. Bennett, author of Why We Fight: Moral Clarity and the War on Terrorism; "Dershowitz has a great deal to say-and to teach us-about the balance we are now struggling to achieve between domestic security and civil liberty."-Barry Gewen, New York Times Book Review; "Written with great clarity and perception, Alan Dershowitz's new book on the murderous impact of international terrorism helps the reader understand the religious fanaticism and misguided political violence that continue to plague the twenty-first century, as well as their unavoidable consequences."-Elie Wiesel

About the Author:

Alan M. Dershowitz, professor of law at Harvard Law School and America's most renowned criminal defense and civil liberties attorney, is the best-selling author of Supreme Injustice, Chutzpah, Reversal of Fortune, Reasonable Doubts, and many other books.

About this edition

• Publisher: Yale University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0300101538
• ISBN 13: 9780300101539
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288