English, Richard. Terrorism: How to Respond.

• Author: Rowland, Charles R., Jr.
• Position: Book review

English, Richard. Terrorism: How to Respond. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. 178 pages. Cloth, $24.95.

Terrorism: How to Respond examines state as well as non-state sponsored terrorist activity, and the comparisons concerning motives, violence, ideology, philosophy, and desired outcomes from both groups of participants. Historian Richard English clearly manifests that there is confusion concerning motives, what aspects constitute a terrorist, and, most interestingly, the possibility that governments, which are normally viewed as non-terrorist, may participate in much of the same activity that they themselves are dedicated to alleviating. As English states, "[i]t remains important ... to stress that terrorism is not the monopoly either of states or of their non-state opponents alone" (p. 9).

The author acknowledges the continuum of definitions, and includes numerous examples that have been supplied throughout history as well as in current literature that attempt to describe terrorism. He recognizes that "[t]he problem of competing definitions is not, of course, solved by adding yet another" (p. 24). This book strikingly presents questions to scholars, practitioners, and society as a whole as to what the exact meaning of terrorism should be. More important, it presents an argument for a new approach to combating and understanding terrorism. Arguably prior approaches have simply failed in these areas. English maintains that new, more successful accomplishments will be determined by better understanding these historical failures. He is extremely passionate and persuasive in arguing for a clear and agreed-upon definition of the term terrorism.

Four major questions are asked that are used to encourage as well as inspire just how much is actually understood, and not understood in the social science community regarding terrorism. These four powerful questions in which the author provides social scientists with the possibility to either agree or expand upon with further research include: What can we learn from terrorism past? Why do significant terrorist campaigns begin? How are terrorists campaigns sustained? Why does terrorism end?

English's main argument is that neglecting, or disregarding lessons from past terrorist activity will inevitably lead to a lack of possibly preventing, or better understanding this phenomenon. For any scholar who may view terrorism from a single, or possibly stagnant perspective, this book will most definitely...