This highly topical new study clearly shows how there are at least two reasons to question the central role that is assigned to religion, in particular Islam, when explaining suicide terrorism.

• suicide terrorism is a modern phenomenon, yet Islam is a very old religion. Except for two periods in the twelfth and eighteenth centuries, suicide was never part of Islamist beliefs and behaviours. Actually, Islam clearly forbids suicide, hence, the argument that Islamic religious beliefs are the main cause of suicide terrorism is inherently dubious
• many suicide attacks have been carried out by secular organizations with little connection to fundamentalist Islam: Palestinian Fatah; the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine; and the Kurdish Workers Party. Moreover, one of the organizations that has employed this strategy devastatingly and regularly is the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam). Not only are members of this organization not Muslim, most of them are not religious at all.

This superb new book contains essays by some of the world's leading scholars of terrorism and political violence. It is essential reading for students of terrorism, political science and Middle Eastern politics, and useful to students of social psychology, theology and history.

About the Author

Ami Pedahzur is an associate professor at the department of government, University of Texas, Austin. His latest publications include: Political Parties and Terrorist Groups (with Leonard Weinberg, 2003) and The Israeli Response to Jewish Extremism and Violence - Defending Democracy (2002).

Reviews

'....deals with its political-religious roots, motives, specific characteristics and all other relevant aspects.. It is the most up to date, informative and reliable survey of this phenomenon.'

Walter Laqueur

'This is a useful and important book on a topic that is as

intellectually compelling as it is politically disturbing.'

Mark Juergensmeyer

"If the book does not attain a global view of Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism, it does provide a snapshot of 2005 thinking about suicide attacks that should find its place on every specialist's shelf."--Middle East Journal, Vol 60 No 4, Autumn 2006

"The most up to date, informative and reliable survey of this phenomenon." - Walter Laqueur

"This is a useful and important book on a topic that is as intellectually compelling as it is politically disturbing." - Mark Juergensmeyer

Book Information
ISBN 9780415770309
Author Ami Pedahzur
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 410g