Course Dates | Length | Meeting Times | Status | Format | Instructor(s) | CRN |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
June 28, 2021 - July 14, 20216/28 - 7/14 | 2 Weeks | Online | Open | Online | Megan McBride | 11717 |
July 12, 2021 - July 28, 20217/12 - 7/28 | 2 Weeks | Online | Open | Online | Megan McBride | 11718 |
Nearly twenty years after 9/11, terrorism remains a pressing security concern that shapes domestic and foreign policy on a variety of critical issues. When it is mentioned, however, the topic of discussion is nearly always Islamist terrorism. Given this, it might come as a surprise to learn that since 9/11 far-right violent extremists in the U.S. have been responsible for almost twice as many terrorist attacks as Islamist terrorists and nearly half of all domestic terrorism fatalities. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security’s new counter-terrorism strategy (released in September 2019) notes that “white supremacist violent extremism, one type of racially- and ethnically-motivated violent extremism, is one of the most potent forces driving domestic terrorism.”
This course, designed to challenge preconceptions about terrorism in the United States, explores a range of terrorist activities in the United States including attacks motivated by the ideologies of ISIS, white supremacists, the anti-abortion movement, the incel movement, and the anti-immigrant movement. As part of understanding these incidents, we will ask a series of critical questions: What motivates terrorist violence? How do we (as a people, a society, a government) typically respond to terrorist violence? And how do issues like race and religion influence our understanding of the individuals and movements involved?
The course explores the concept of contemporary terrorism by looking at acts of terrorism that have occurred in the United States. We will explore individuals, movements, and incidents that are inspired by ISIS and white supremacists, as well as at individuals, movements, and incidents inspired by the anti-abortion movement, the incel movement, and the anti-immigrant movement. We will, moreover, do this by engaging with materials written by academics, policy analysts, journalists, and terrorists themselves.
As part of understanding these incidents, we will ask a series of critical questions: What motivates terrorist violence? How do we (as a people, a society, a government) typically respond to terrorist violence? And how do issues like race and religion influence our understanding of the individuals and movements involved?
In short, this course will provide a foundation for further study – in International Relations, Political Science, Public Policy, American Studies, etc. – by giving students a more nuanced understanding of terrorism in the United States.
This course will:
Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this course.
Summer@Brown
Brown’s Pre-College Program in the liberal arts and sciences for students completing grades 9-12 by June 2021.
Visit Program Page View Course Pricing Information Sessions Learn How to Apply