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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PL 334-2"
COURSE NAME: "Terrorism and Counterterrorism"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Diego Pagliarulo
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 6:00 PM 7:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: PL 209 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will provide the student with an understanding and basic foundation to: explain and compare the varying definitions of terrorism; distinguish the different types of terrorist motivations including left-wing, right-wing, ethnonationalist, separatists, and religious; differentiate terrorism from other forms of violence including political violence, guerilla warfare, insurgency, civil war, unconventional warfare, and crime; understand and describe the historical foundations of terrorism and apply them to modern terrorist events and methods being used to combat them.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course provides students with an introduction to the most salient issues concerning the historical, political, social, and strategic dimensions of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

Topics include:

- Defining and understanding the concept of terrorism.

- The historical evolution of terrorism.

- State terrorism.

- The causes of terrorism.

- The methods that characterize contemporary terrorism.

- Right-wing and left-wing terrorism.

- Terrorism in the context of nationalism, insurgencies, and decolonization.

- Religious Terrorism.

- The goals and instruments that define counter-terrorism.

- Terrorism and US national security.

- Terrorism and conflict in the Middle East.

- How terrorism ends.

- The legal and ethical dimensions of counterterrorism. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course students will be able to: 

• Explain the current public debate on terrorism and counterterrorism; 

• Interpret the complexity of terrorism as an international phenomenon; 

• Identify the main features of modern terrorism; 

• Identify the main typologies of terrorism active in the last two centuries and critically engage with the most relevant case  studies; 

• Acquire a basic knowledge of the possible ways to counter terrorism; 

• Discover how different societies handle terrorism and build a shared or a divisive narrative on political violence; • Understand the historical significance of terrorism for Italy; 

• Put Italy’s experiences of terrorism into relation with other national cases. 
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and ParticipationAs the course is intended to develop on a seminar-like basis, the grade reflects how often and well-prepared students come to class. Absences, scarce preparedness, passive and poor contribution to class discussion, and inappropriate conduct will negatively affect the grade.15%
Oral PresentationStudents must prepare an oral presentation on a specific terrorist group or campaign previously agreed upon with the instructor. The use of PowerPoint is strongly recommended.10%
Midterm ExamClosed-Book. 60 minutes. 1 essays (Max. 700 words).20%
Book AnalysisStudents are required to prepare an oral presentation and a paper (maximum 2000 words) based on a book or a section of a book previously agreed upon with the instructor.25%
Final ExamClosed Book. 120 minutes. 2 essays (max 600 words per essay).30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

The course schedule might be subject to changes and updates

Week

Content

Assignment

1

Introduction to the course

Part I

What Is Terrorism?

1

Defining and Understanding Terrorism.

Read: Silke, Chapter 2-3; Whittaker, Chapter 1 and 3.

2

The History of Terrorism.


Terrorism as a National Security Challenge

Read:

  • Silke, Chapter 4


Discussion: Terrorism as a security challenge.


Find 1 newspaper article about terrorism.

3

State Terrorism.


Contemporary Terrorism: Causes and Methods.

Read:

  • Silke: Chapter 6

  • Silke, Chapter 5 and 11

  • One of the following:

    • One of the following: Silke, Chapter 10 (Lone-actor terrorism)/13 (Social media)/18 (Foreign fighters)/19 (Suicide terrorism).


Visit to Museo Storico della Liberazione.

Part II

Terrorism In Perspective

4

Right-Wing and Left-Wing Terrorism

Read:

  • Silke: Chapter 8-9.

  • Whittaker, Chapter 3.

    • Whittaker, Chapter 17/18.

    • Silke, Chapter 30/51.


Presentations and discussion on the Red Brigades and the RAF.

5

Terrorism, Nationalism, Insurgencies, and Decolonization

Read:

  • Silke, Chapter 7

  • One of the following:

    • Silke, Chapter 28/29.

    • Whittaker, Chapter 11/12/13/14/15/16/19.


Presentations and discussion on terrorism within the context of nationalism and decolonization (Northern Ireland, Algeria, South Africa, Spain, ect.)

6

Religious Terrorism

Read:

  • Whittaker, Chapter 4.

  • One of the following:

    • Silke: 24/25/26/27.

    • Whittaker: 7/9/10.


Presentations and discussion on Hamas, Hezbollah, Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Boko Haram.

7

Midterms

 

Midterm Review


Midterm Exam

Part III

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism

8

Fighting Terrorism

Read:

  • Whittaker: Chapter 21, 22, 23.

  • One of the following:

    • Silke, Chapter 32 (Policing)/33 (Military)/34 (Intelligence)/36 (Public support)/41 (Targeted killings).


Discussion: Counterterrorism: A Multi-Dimensional Approach.


Visit to Quartiere Ebraico.

9

Case study: Terrorism and US National Security

Read:

  • Silke, Chapter 49, 54-55.

  • Whittaker, Chapter 5.


Discussion: The Lessons from the War on Terror.

10

Case Study: Terrorism and the Israel-Palestine Question

Read:

  • Silke: Chapter 50.

  • Byman, Excerpts.


Book Discussion: A High Price.

11

How Terrorism Ends

Read:

  • Cronin, Excerpts.


Book Discussion: How Terrorism Ends.

12

Terrorism and Counterterrorism in Russia China, and India

Read:

  • Silke: Chapter 45, 48, and 50.


Guest Lecture/On-site activity/Discussion on terrorism as a global security challenge.

13

Fighting Terrorism: Legal and Ethical Issues

Read:

  • Silke, Chapter 42.

  • Whittaker, Chapter 21-22.


Guest Lecture/Discussion on the legal and ethical implications of counter-terrorism.


Submit: Book review.

14

The Present and Future of Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism.


General Review

Read: TBA.


Final Review.

Finals Week

Final Exam