Module Code: POU44334
Module Name: Topics in Political Science 12: Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism 2025-26
- ECTS Weighting: 5
- Semester/Term Taught: Semester 2
- Contact Hours: 2 Hours Lecture per week
- Module Personnel: Lecturer - Dr Sotirios Karampampas
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of the key debates in the study of terrorism and counter-terrorism.
- Analyse the factors contributing to individual and group radicalisation and the adoption of political violence.
- Situate contemporary terrorist groups and tactics within broader historical and geopolitical contexts.
- Critically assess the role of the nation-state in both perpetrating and responding to terrorism.
- Evaluate the ethical, legal, and political implications of counter-terrorism policies in diverse settings.
Module Learning Aims
The module aims to
- Provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the phenomenon of terrorism across historical and contemporary contexts.
- Examine the main theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of political violence and terrorism.
- Explore the processes of radicalisation, de-radicalisation, and counter-radicalisation.
- Assess the global impact of counter-terrorism measures and the long-term consequences of the war on terror.
- Encourage critical reflection on the political, ethical, and legal dilemmas involved in defining and responding to terrorism.
Module Content
This module offers a critical introduction to the study of terrorism and counter-terrorism. Adopting an interdisciplinary perspective, it examines key debates surrounding the concept of terrorism, including definitional ambiguities, competing explanations of terrorist violence, and the range of counter-terrorism strategies employed by states and international actors. Topics include state terrorism, the impact of 9/11, radicalisation processes, and global responses to terrorism. Particular attention is paid to the political uses of the term “terrorism” and the power dynamics that shape its application. The module encourages students to question dominant narratives, explore under-researched forms of political violence, and engage with the ethical and legal dilemmas raised by counter-terrorism measures. Emphasis is placed on the empirical and conceptual challenges of studying terrorism in a globalised and securitised world.Recommended Reading List
Top Reads
Bakker, E. (2015). Terrorism and Counterterrorism Studies: Comparing Theory and Practice. Leiden University Press.
Chenoweth, E. et al. (eds.) (2019). The Oxford Handbook of Terrorism. Oxford University Press.
Hoffman, B. (2017). Inside Terrorism. 3rd edition. Columbia University Press (multiple editions).
Martin, G. (2018). Understanding Terrorism: Challenges, Perspectives and Issues, 6th Edition. Sage Publishing (multiple editions).
Silke, A. P. (ed.) (2018). Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism. 2nd edition. Routledge (multiple editions).
Assessment Details
Tutorial Attendance and Discussion Points: 10%
Mid-Term Essay: 40%
Final Exam: 50%