Critical Terrorism Studies in the Classroom

• In Event: Teaching Critical Criminology: Directly Engaging Students with Critical Themes

Abstract

I will share a couple of introductory exercises and materials that I have recently employed in introducing the topic of Terrorism to undergraduate classes. Combining Mills’ Sociological Imagination with Austin Turk’s “Sociology of Terrorism,” the goal is to set the stage for an increased understanding of politically motivated violence. More specifically, one of my first classes utilizes a “flipped classroom” approach involving readings from Mills and Turk and supplemented by two TED Talks just prior to an introductory exercise on “What is Terrorism?” The next involves readings on The Just War Theory and supplementary video in preparation for a discussion on the morality and ethics of political violence. Hopefully, these examples will help to facilitate a discussion on further pedagogical possibilities on teaching terrorism critically.

Author

• Carl Root, Eastern Kentucky University