Terror, terrorist acts and terrorism is as old as human history. Individuals, sects, cults, despotic rulers, revolutionaries, political organizations, independence movements, 'freedom fighters' and modern nation states have for millennia used terror (violence, fear and intimidation) to advance their interests. Despite this, acts of terror when they occur continue to shock and surprise the community, society or nation in which they take place. Each generation it seems views terror and terrorism as something unique, frightening and new.
This course will explore the modern history of terror and terrorism. Beginning with the birth of modern terrorism — 'The Terror' of Revolutionary France — it will examine how terror has been used, justified, fought, changed, surged, ebbed and periodically reappeared since 1793. A series of case studies will look at different categories of terror and terrorism: revolutionary terror, anarchist terrorism, nationalist (and anti-colonial) campaigns of terror, the terror of totalitarianism, surrogate terrorism, and the use of terror methods by modern nation states and those who challenge their power. The Jacobin terrorists of 1793 were very different from the anarchist Narodnya Volya who assassinated Tsar Alexander II with a bomb in 1881, but both could claim to be acting in the interests of the greater good. And the Zionist Irgun members who blew up the King David Hotel in Jerusalem in 1946, and the Palestinian Black September militants who took eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team hostage and subsequently murdered them in Munich in 1972 could both claim to be fighting for a homeland in the Middle East. The scale of the terrorist threat may have changed since Al Qaeda's attack on the United States on 11 September 2001, but one should not assume that terrorism itself has changed. One of the aims of this course will be to explore the continuities, ironies, and marked differences to be found in the history of terror over the last two centuries.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- demonstrate an understanding of how terror and the use of violence to provoke fear and intimidate; societies, governments and nations has been employed over the last two centuries;
- demonstrate an understanding of the different types and evolving nature of Terror;
- demonstrate an understanding of the different theories of terrorism and how the perpetrators of acts of terror have attempted to justify their actions;
- demonstrate an understanding of the basics of historical inquiry and historical analysis; and
- demonstrate how to use evidence, apply theory, formulate arguments and express their views in both oral and written form.
Other Information
Course Contact: Dr Rebecca Cross
T: 02 61250982
E: rebecca.cross@anucollege.edu.au
Indicative Assessment
- 1,000 word document exercise (15 %) [Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5] (15) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- 2,000 word essay (35 %) [Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5] (35) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Tutorial participation and performance (10 %) [Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5] (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Final examination (40 %) [Learning Outcomes 1,2,3,4,5] (40) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
In response to COVID-19: Please note that Semester 2 Class Summary information (available under the classes tab) is as up to date as possible. Changes to Class Summaries not captured by this publication will be available to enrolled students via Wattle.
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Workload
160 hours of total student learning time made up from:a) 75 hours of contact: 75 hours of workshop and workshop-like activities.
b) 85 hours of supported and independent student research, reading and writing.
Inherent Requirements
Not applicable
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None specified
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $3690 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2020 | $5250 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Second Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8299 | 27 Jul 2020 | 03 Aug 2020 | 31 Aug 2020 | 13 Nov 2020 | In Person | N/A |
