1. Freedom Fighters and Zealots: Al Qaeda in Historical Perspective.
- Author
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FETTWEIS, CHRISTOPHER J.
- Subjects
- *
TERRORISM , *ETHNIC conflict , *IDEOLOGICAL conflict , *NATIONALISM , *POLITICAL science - Abstract
The article discusses the history and study of terrorism and its relevance to the Islamic terrorist group al Qaeda. Terrorist groups are divided into two categories, nationalist and ideological, and their differences discussed: nationalists fight on behalf of a people or ethnic group, for limited territorial goals, while ideological terrorists fight on behalf of a political or religious idea, for abstract, unlimited goals. Al Qaeda is discussed as an example of an ideological group, and terrorist and counterterrorist strategies and tactics are discussed as well.
- Published
- 2009
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