Purpose: to apply some of the themes we have covered in this class to our study of ISIS and through an analysis of the Sterns/Berger book ISIS: The State of Terror.
The Questions: Stern and Berger observe: “A hybrid of terrorism and insurgency, the former al Qaeda affiliate, booted out of that group in part due to its excessive brutality, is rewriting the playbook for extremism. It has inverted many of the dynamics that have applied to violent extremism for a century or longer and changed the rules of engagement on multiple fronts.” (Stern/Berger, 6) Using this quote as a starting point, discuss: 1) How does ISIS fit into both the framework of jihadist terrorism as we have seen it in other examples (al Qaeda for example) as well as the framework for assessing terrorism more generally as we have seen over the course of this class? 2) In what ways does ISIS challenge the perceived wisdom about terrorism?
You should address these points by examiningat least two of the following themes/case studies using specific supporting evidence from the Stern/Berger book (if you have other themes you are interested in please let me know!)
–ideological inspirations (what drives ISIS and how does it try to rationalize its actions?)
–methods of recruitment (what makes it appealing to recruits?)
–use of the terrorist “toolbox” (not only tactics but the objectives the group is trying to achieve through these specific tactics)
–the role of the media and publicity (What is the public message of ISIS and how does it try to spread this message?)
–the challenge of counter-terrorism (how have the US and other states tried to fight ISIS? Where have these efforts been effective, and where have they failed?)
–historical context (what events shaped the formation of ISIS?)
–Relationship to other terrorist organizations (What is its relationship to al Qaeda? How are the groups similar or different?)
–the hybrid nature of ISIS (Stern and Berger argue that ISIS exhibits characteristics of a terrorist organization, insurgency, and proto-state all at once—what does this mean, and how might it affect counter-terrorism efforts?)
Paper guidelines:
–at least4 pages, 12 point font, 1 inch margins, double spaced (you are welcome to write more as needed).
–**Your paper is primarily an assessment of the Stern/Berger book and MUST explicitly engage with this book and its arguments.You can also use the Law textbook as well as any additional sources that I might post on Canvas. I have chosen these sources for very specific reasons—if for some reason you would like to use another source you need to consult with me well in advance.
–All rules of academic integrity apply. You can cite the assigned sources as follows (if you do draw on any other sources they must have complete citations):
–For the Stern/Berger book cite as (Stern, page #)
–For the Law textbook cite as (Law, page #)–if you are using a Kindle edition, please put Kindle in as well
–For any sources posted on Canvas cite as (author/publication/title of website, date)
Academic Integrity: **All direct quotes (word for word) MUST have quotation marks at the beginning and end of the quote AND a parenthetical citation. All paraphrases should be a substantial rewording of the text while keeping the main idea, and still need a parenthetical citation with a page number. I should be able to see from your paper where you are drawing information from. Please consult the syllabus for more academic integrity guidelines, or if you have questions about citations please come see me!
What I’m looking for in grading the paper:
–strong supporting historical evidence drawn from the assigned texts (back up assertions with accurate facts)
–strong analysis of the questions posed for the paper (goes beyond factual points to include analysis of their significance—sophisticated analysis separates an A paper from a B paper)
–Demonstrated mastery of the assigned material and how it fits into the themes of the course (your paper should open with a brief introduction and close with a conclusion that frame this discussion of ISIS in the larger framework of the course and course themes)
–meets all assignment guidelines as far as use of required sources, length, formatting, etc.
–Clarity in writing (I should be able to easily follow your arguments) and adherence to the standards of academic integrity
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