911
A01=Joseba Zulaika
academic
Author_Joseba Zulaika
basque
catch 22
Category=JPWL
civilian
contemporary
counterterrorism
cultural
culture
doctrine
eq_bestseller
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_nobargain
eq_non-fiction
eq_society-politics
future
historical
history
in cold blood
intellectual
iraq
jean genet
logic
middle east
modern
orianna fallaci
prevention
psychological
psychology
realistic
research
scholarly
social problems
society
terror
terrorist
violence
war
Product details
- ISBN 9780226994161
- Weight: 425g
- Dimensions: 16 x 23mm
- Publication Date: 01 Dec 2009
- Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
- Publication City/Country: US
- Product Form: Paperback
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In counterterrorism circles, the standard response to questions about the possibility of future attacks is a terse one-liner worthy of Jack Bauer: 'Not if, but when'. This mantra supposedly conveys a realistic approach to the problem, but, as Joseba Zulaika argues in "Terrorism", it functions as a self-fulfilling prophecy by distorting reality to fit their own worldview, the architects of the war on terror prompt the behavior they seek to prevent - a twisted logic that has already played out horrifically in Iraq. In short, Zulaika contends, counterterrorism has become pivotal in promoting terrorism. Exploring the blind spots of counterterrorist doctrine, Zulaika takes readers on a remarkable intellectual journey. He contrasts the psychological insight of Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" with "The 9/11 Commission Report", plumbs the mindset of terrorists in works by Oriana Fallaci and Jean Genet, maps the continuities between the cold war and the fight against terrorism, and analyzes the case of a Basque terrorist who tried to return to civilian life.
Zulaika's argument is powerful, inventive, and rich with insights and ideas that provide a new and sophisticated perspective on the war on terror.
Joseba Zulaika is professor of Basque studies and codirector of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is the author or coauthor of many books, including Terror and Taboo: The Follies, Fables, and Faces of Terrorism.
