Product Description

Since the attacks of 11 September 2001, the topic of terrorism has been almost continually front-page news in the United Kingdom. The subsequent 'war on terror', including the invasion of Iraq, has only heightened interest in the matter. With the London bombings of 7 July 2005, Britain became a frontline in international terrorism and counter-terrorism. This reality has only been heightened by failed attacks in London on 21 July 2005, and through a series of high profile arrests in Forest Hill, in Birmingham in connection to a beheading plot, the arrests of NHS staff in connection to failed attacks in London and Glasgow, and the attempted arrest of Jean Charles de Menezes, which had tragic consequences. In this illuminating and fascinating look at an often misunderstood world Steve Hewitt offers a balanced, measured, and informed examination of recent events and offers a historical and contemporary context to this new threat, and how we are dealing with it.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22420 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 158 pages

About the Author
Dr Steve Hewitt is an expert on national security and intelligence and a lecturer at the University of Birmingham. He regularly appears on television and radio commenting on issues of terrorism and national security.

Customer Reviews

A complete journey through the British terrorism experience
I finished reading this brilliant book in 2 days. Too much of the literature on terrorism focuses on America. Hewitt constructs on excellent account of the British 'war on terror'. He correctly places terrorism in its historical context (the fight against Irish nationalism) whilst providing the reader with a clear account of what was happening behind the scenes pre 9/11.

Hewitt wipes away the cobwebs of the biased media discourse and shows how foreign policy has motivated terrorists, whilst criticising the Blair government for having pandered to public opinion, rather than get to grips with the long-term structural forces that have given rise to terrorism in this country and must be rectified to reduce the threat. This is what is known as 'hearts and mind', a concept the author hits upon as the way forward in gaining valuable human intelligence, which has a central place in the arsenal of counter-terrorism responses.

All in all a very good read that is highly recommened to both the student and to anyone interested in knowing the non-tabloid story of terrorism in this country.

One of the best books on the subject
Out of the many book's I have read on the subject of militant Islam and state responses, this is possibly the best one. The author provides an excellent historical account of terrorism in Britain and thoroughly explains the current threat without using academic jargon that loses the reader in a sea of complex terms and concepts. Hewitt's book is a `must read' for any person wanting to comprehend the `true' nature of the militant Islamism, a threat that is extremely misrepresented by the press and politicians, respectively.

To the point...
If you are interested in any way in the subject this book concentrates on; then buy it. An excellent, no nonsense read that fascinated me. Highly recommended.