Terrorism Study

[cav58d]

I am taking a Capstone Seminar in Political Science.  The theme of the course is terrorism, and the only graded paper will be a final 40 page research paper on the topic of terrorism.  Very broad.  For my college internship, I did a semester with Connecticut's Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security (DEMHS).  Right now i'm leaning towards doing my research on terrorism and the state of Connecticut...(prevention...responses
I figure this would be a good forum to post in for suggestions.  Like I said, the theme is terrorism.  Could range from studying the roll of women and terrorist groups, to the insurgency in Iraq.

Would love to hear some suggestions.  So does anyone have any idea's on what could be an awesome topic, with accessible research?

thanks

cav

[Chairboy]

What about coming at it from a different angle?  For example, you could write about the effect on society that terrorist attacks have had.  For example, 10 years ago, if someone put a Litebrite on a bridge, the person who demanded that persons head because of it being a terrorist device would be laughed out of the room, but our conversation here the other day suggests that it's acceptable to panic over these things now.

Same thing for the Patriot act.  10 years ago, if someone tried to get that passed, they'd be roundly attacked for subverting our civil rights.  But in the post 9/11 world, the almost unanimous support for it was applauded.

[Ack-Ack]

How about the influence of terrorism on national policies?  You can use instances where terrorism is used to affect national policy decisions.  Examples could be the use of terrorism in the 1970s by various groups, such as the Baader-Meinhoff (sp?) Gang, Red Brigade, IRA, etc. or other groups where the goal was more political than ideological.


ack-ack

[cav58d]

Originally posted by Chairboy
What about coming at it from a different angle?  For example, you could write about the effect on society that terrorist attacks have had.  For example, 10 years ago, if someone put a Litebrite on a bridge, the person who demanded that persons head because of it being a terrorist device would be laughed out of the room, but our conversation here the other day suggests that it's acceptable to panic over these things now.

Same thing for the Patriot act.  10 years ago, if someone tried to get that passed, they'd be roundly attacked for subverting our civil rights.  But in the post 9/11 world, the almost unanimous support for it was applauded.

Yea, i have been thinking about that.  Sounds a lot like a sociology study, but there should be a vast amount of information.

Good examples too.  Could also throw in the color coded theat system.

[Chairboy]

Also, don't forget how terrorists managed to directly change the results of a national election in Spain a couple years ago by taking advantage of mob-psychology.  They couldn't have timed those explosions any better, it safe to say that it was their intent, and that they succeeded.

[cav58d]

Thats actually a pretty awesome topic chairboy.  Thanks man.  I will definately look into it.

Two other topics i've been thinking of are the Gitmo Prisoners...And the NSA TSP.

[Maverick]

Do you have any options to this course??? A grade for a semester based only on a single paper from a subject that is wide open to interpretation???? That sounds like an invitation to a potential accademic lynching. If the prof decides he / she didn't like the paper you're toast.


Given an assumption that it is legit and you want to continue, look at the growth of terrorism and the use of media as either a role or a spur to terror activities. Kind of like the chicken and egg controversy in a causal basis.

[cav58d]

This is a Capstone Seminar.  Culmination of every political science course I have taken, and I believe the grading is fair and appropriate for the level I am at.

Topic must be approved by the Doctor, and daily reports submitted, however, final grade is in the final product.

Unfortunately media and terrosim was taken the first day.  That would have been a good one too.

[Thrawn]

Why hasn't Al-Qaeda attacked the US again, especially considering it's porous board?

[storch]

Originally posted by Thrawn
Why hasn't Al-Qaeda attacked the US again, especially considering it's porous board?

because brave young men and women are volunteering to take the fight to their doorstep in accordance with the political decision made by the bush administration in the aftermath of the 11 sep 2001 attacks on our nation.

[Chairboy]

Also, airfares are up.  And have you tried using your frequent flyer miles lately?  So much paperwork....

[Nilsen]

Originally posted by cav58d
IThe theme of the course is terrorism, and the only graded paper will be a final 40 page research paper on the topic of terrorism.

How do you make a 40 page research paper on "Its all Bush's fault" ????

[storch]

you have a european write it.

[Toad]

Touche!

[Nilsen]

Yeah.. i suppose you have to be pretty clever to do it.