Background Information
Modern terrorism is a complex area of study though a common interpretation is offered by the Dictionary of Human Geography as, "organized violence that deliberately targets civilians and that is intended to sow fear among a population for political purposes." Use the following sources to learn more about terrorism and the political, legal, social, historical, and religious issues surrounding it.
- Encyclopedia of TerrorismEncyclopedia includes entries on both national and international terrorism, including entries about specific terrorist attacks.
- The SAGE Encyclopedia of Surveillance, Security, and PrivacyContains entries on surveillance tactics, specific global terrorist organizations, and topics under data privacy in the digital age.
- Dictionary of Human GeographyIncludes short definitions of terms and longer entries on major topics in human geography. Good for background information on how geography affects conflict.
- CQ Researcher This link opens in a new windowGives overviews of major topic areas (including terrorism). Includes articles, lists of other resources, and Pro and Con arguments for most topics.
- International Security and the United States: An Encyclopedia Volumes 1 and 2Listed alphabetically by country, each entry has a section titled "Security," which contains information on any conflict with the United States. Each entry is followed by a bibliography of references and suggested readings for further research.