Terrorism, counter-terrorism and technology

This unit aims to provide a critical understanding of terrorism, counter-terrorism and the role of technology in both the application and prevention of political violence. In particular, it examines the phenomenon of terrorism by considering the historical, social, political, economic and systemic contexts in which it is embedded; the ethical and practical problems faced by the modern liberal democratic state in responding to both domestic and international terrorism; and the complexities introduced by new technology such as social media to terrorism and counter-terrorism. These issues will be explored across a series of case studies and scenarios, to provide practical insights into the themes and theories the course explores.