The role of terrorism in twenty-first-century warfare

The authors investigate the timing of insurgents’ use of terrorism within the context of wider-scale warfare. Unlike the great wars found in modern history, the dominant form of warfare in recent years has become internal. The main actors are non-state groups seeking to replace an existing political order through violent means. Terrorism, especially indiscriminate attacks on unarmed civilians, has been an important component of these groups’ tactical repertoires. The purpose of this study is to explore variations in the timing of insurgents’ use of terrorism within the context of war. The authors draw on the largely separate literatures on terrorism and warfare as well as complementary sources of data on terrorist events, insurgent groups, and various forms of armed conflict. The product of this analysis is a mapping of the frequencies of terrorist attacks over time and the identification of these attacks as occurring during the beginning, middle, or ending stages of wider-scale warfare. This is followed by in-depth discussions of the insurgent groups whose use of terrorism matches each of these patterns as well as the contexts within which these groups operate. Readers of this book will include students, scholars, policy-makers, members of the military, and the general public. ' 'The role of terrorism in twenty-first-century warfare' is a critical reflection on the major armed conflicts of the 1990s and 2000s. Wars in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria all involved the use of terrorism by one or more groups - looking to the future, what does this mean for violent conflicts yet to come?Using a variety of case studies, Susanne Martin and Leonard Weinberg provide a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the roles played by terrorism both as a stand-alone tactic and as a means of igniting broad-scale conflict. They investigate whether terrorist violence occurs during the early stages of an insurgency - as a leading indicator of a wider conflict - or if it is employed throughout the conflict's duration. They also seek to determine the circumstances under which terrorism occurs as an armed conflict begins to subside, in other words acting as a trailing indicator. This study is the product of Martin and Weinberg's thorough investigations into the function and timing of terrorist violence in multi-dimensional conflicts. As such, it is an essential text for understanding the role that acts of terror play in contemporary warfare and future conflicts, and will be of interest to students in military studies, political science and international relations' --Back cover The role of terrorism in twenty-first-century warfare is a critical reflection on the major armed conflicts occurring during the 1990s and the first decade of the Twenty First Century. Conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria all involved the use of terrorism by one or more groups. Turning to the future, the book asks what does this mean for violent conflicts yet to come? Using a variety of case studies, Weinberg and Martin provide a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the role played by terrorism as a stand-alone tactic as well as one used to ignite broad-scale conflict, asking whether terrorist violence occurs during the early stages of an insurgency, as a leading indicator of a wider conflict, or if it is employed throughout the conflict's duration? The work also poses the question on what occasions does terrorism tend to occur as an armed conflict begins to subside, and when, in other words, is it a trailing indicator? This book is the product of Weinberg and Martin's thorough investigations into the role and timing of terrorist violence in multi-dimensional conflicts. It is an essential text for understanding the role that acts of terror play in contemporary warfare and future conflicts. -- Provided by publisher This book presents a critical reflection on the major armed conflicts that occurred during the 1990s and the first decade of the twenty-first century. Conflicts in Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria all involved the use of terrorism by one or more groups. Looking to the future, the book asks what this means for violent conflicts yet to come? Using a variety of case studies, the authors provide a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the role played by terrorism as a stand-alone tactic as well as one used to ignite broad-scale conflict. They also pose the question on what occasions does terrorism tend to occur as an armed conflict begins to subside, and when, in other words, is it a trailing indicator? Front matter Contents List of figures List of tables Acknowledgements Abbreviations Introduction The “new” terrorism in warfare The logic of our approach: data and measurement Terrorism as a leading indicator: insurgents’ use of terrorism at the initial stages of conflict Terrorism as a tactic of wider-scale warfare Terrorism after wars: the weapon of the weakest? Conclusions and forecasts Appendices Bibliography Index A critical reflection on the role of terrorism in major armed conflicts occurring during the 1990s and the first decade of the twenty first century. Case studies include Bosnia, Kosovo, Chechnya, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria.