Overview

The ability of terrorist groups to inflict death and destruction has markedly increased with technological advances in the areas of communication, transportation, and weapon capability. Using these new tools and networks, terrorists now seek to inflict mass casualties worldwide. Given these realities, it is essential to research the factors that underlie a terrorist group’s origins, grievances, and demands. Such insights might help others respond more effectively to insurgencies, especially when military campaigns to capture or kill every terrorist have proven unsuccessful. The Freedom Fighter: A Terrorist’s Own Story explores why so many Kurdish people—especially young adults—join the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and conduct terrorist acts. Inspired by the ground-breaking classic, The Jack-Roller: A Delinquent Boy’s Own Story, by Clifford R. Shaw, the author explores the issue of radicalization into terrorist organizations through the life-history method, enabling a PKK terrorist—or “freedom fighter”—to tell his story. Over a five-month period, the author interviewed “Deniz,” a high-level PKK terrorist in a Turkish prison, who during his time in the PKK rose from the lowest level to near the top in terms of terrorist operations. This riveting life history, told in Deniz’s own words, provides unique insights into why someone becomes a “freedom fighter” and what such a life entails. The account provides extensive information on the PKK, including the group’s recruitment, ideological and military training, armed strategies, internal structures and code of ethics, treatment of women, and goals for peace. Deniz’s story not only explains why more Kurdish “freedom fighters” will be recruited to engage in terrorist acts, but also facilitates understanding of how “normal people” can become involved in conflict and organizations that are designated as “terrorist groups.” A foreword by renowned criminologist Francis T. Cullen helps contextualize the material. This book will interest students of criminology, terrorism/counterterrorism, political violence, and security.

Full Product Details

Author:   Murat Haner
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Routledge
Weight:   0.975kg
ISBN:  

9781138104501

ISBN 10:   1138104507
Pages:   480
Publication Date:   14 September 2017
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education ,  Undergraduate
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Foreword by Francis T. Cullen Preface PART I. Terrorism in Context Chapter 1: Meeting Deniz Chapter 2: The History of Kurds and the PKK PART II. The Freedom Fighter’s Own Story Section A: Becoming a Terrorist Chapter 3: The Early Years Chapter 4: Joining the PKK Chapter 5: Mission Trainings Section B: Being a Terrorist Chapter 6: Rangers and My First Mission Chapter 7: Turkish Oppression Toward the Kurdish Villagers Chapter 8: The PKK Organization Chapter 9: On the Way to Damascus, Syria Chapter 10: War Against Barzani’s Peshmerghas Chapter 11: Chaotic Situation at Central Headquarters Chapter 12: The Women Guerillas of the Organization Chapter 13: The War Against the YNK Chapter 14: The Invasion of Iraq by U.S. Forces Chapter 15: That’s All She Wrote! Chapter 16: The Trip to Amed Chapter 17: Recruiting New Guerillas Chapter 18: Decision to Keep My Hands Off Section C: Prison and Beyond Chapter 19: Leaving the PKK Chapter 20: The Prison and the General Chapter 21: Penitence (Second Thoughts) Chapter 22: The Turks, The Kurds and the Last Chance PART III: Conclusion Chapter 23: Lessons from a Terrorist’s Own Story Appendix I References Index

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Author Information

Murat Haner received his Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University of Cincinnati. He is currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Socials Sciences, Program of Criminology, at the University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee. He teaches courses in counterterrorism, homeland security, radicalization, the Middle East, criminal justice, and intelligence science. Previously, he was a ranked officer with the Turkish National Police, at various departments. He worked undercover on counterterrorism and similar areas across Turkey. He also traveled to Hungary, Israel, Sudan, Azerbaijan, Greece, Syria, and Germany for security training and education programs under the auspices of European Union and Turkish state funds.

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