This highly topical new study clearly shows how there are at least two reasons to question the central role that is assigned to religion,in particular Islam, when explaining suicide terrorism.
This superb new book contains essays by some of the world's leading scholars of terrorism and political violence. It is essential reading for students of terrorism, political science and Middle Eastern politics, and useful to students of social psychology, theology and history.
Ami Pedahzur is an associate professor at the department of government, University of Texas, Austin. His latest publications include: Political Parties and Terrorist Groups (with Leonard Weinberg, 2003) and The Israeli Response to Jewish Extremism and Violence - Defending Democracy (2002).
"The most up to date, informative and reliable survey of this phenomenon." - Walter Laqueur
"This is a useful and important book on a topic that is as intellectually compelling as it is politically disturbing." - Mark Juergensmeyer