BOOK REVIEWS: TERRORISM

Terrorism and Homeland Security, Eighth Edition

By Jonathan R. White; Reviewed by Kevin A. Cassidy

***** Terrorism and Homeland Security, Eighth Edition. By Jonathan R. White. Cengage Learning; cengage.com; 528 pages; $133.95; also available as e-book.

Terrorism expert Jonathan R. White expands on concepts from his previous edition and provides additional thought-provoking ideas in Terrorism and Homeland Security, 8th Edition. Some critics may disagree with how White explains and discusses various terrorism events and organizations, but his ideas are current and his learning objectives throughout the book are widely recognized. The text remains objective and offers a plethora of information on various terrorist organizations, their recruiting methods, and comparisons of the various terrorist groups.

White begins by explaining why terrorism is hard to define and how the term “terrorism” is used and applied throughout history. Designed to introduce criminal justice and other social science students to the field of terrorism and homeland security, the book does more than that. It takes a practical look at how law enforcement agencies, the military, and society view terrorism and the importance of homeland security.

Beginning with Michael Collins and the Irish Republican Brotherhood, White provides detailed accounts of terrorist organizations past and present and offers some history on how these organizations evolved. The book employs charts, pictures, and maps as reference material to support ideas and examples, leading the reader to understand the area of discussion, as well as its significance to other terrorist groups and activities worldwide. White also incorporates discussions on influential terrorist analysts and policy makers, focused on international and domestic threats and how governments deal with the threat of terrorism.

Each chapter includes key terms, discussion questions, marginal side bars, and a self-check question box. These boxes serve a two-fold purpose: encouraging the reader to think critically and analyze what White is discussing, and providing a basis for further discussion inherent to homeland security and terrorism. This new edition has been comprehensively reorganized and will benefit students in criminal justice, security, public administration, and law enforcement.

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Reviewer: Kevin A. Cassidy is director of public safety and risk management at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, where he is also an adjunct professor. He is a member of ASIS International.

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