A consortium of researchers dedicated to improving the understanding of the human causes and consequences of terrorism

START inks new book series with Oxford University Press

Editors accepting proposals now on causes, conduct and consequences of terrorism

The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) is partnering with Oxford University Press to sponsor a new book series on the causes, conduct and consequences of terrorism. The interdisciplinary series will approach terrorism conceptually as having a developmental “life cycle” that includes the origins of political extremism and the formation of terrorist groups; terrorist dynamics and persistence; and societal responses to terrorism.

Now seeking proposals, the editorial team – Gary LaFree and Gary Ackerman from the University of Maryland, and Anthony Lemieux from Georgia State University – aim to publish one to two books a year that are theoretically informed, empirically grounded and policy relevant.

“We will be looking especially for research that fits the conceptual scheme, breaks new ground theoretically and or methodologically, and that is likely to generate additional research and policy interest,” said Gary LaFree, director of START and professor of criminology and criminal justice. "We are thrilled to partner with Oxford--the world's preeminent publisher of data-driven research on terrorism.”

The editorial team intends for the books – each about 200-300 pages in length – to be accessible to a broad audience, including scholars, graduate students and policymakers and practitioners, while being rooted in rigorous social science.

The “Causes, Conduct and Consequences of Terrorism” book series will not be restricted to U.S. concerns or any single discipline, but will assess the phenomenon of terrorism globally, comparatively and from a multi-disciplinary perspective.

“This series is a reflection of the consortium model that brings together leading universities to address some of the most vexing challenges where bringing research to bear is more important than ever,” said Anthony Lemieux, director of the Global Studies Institute and professor of global studies and communication.

Authors from any discipline and university are encouraged to submit proposals. To be selected for the series, authors must explore the interconnections between the “life-cycle phase” in which their topic resides and the other phases. For example: a volume on the role of ideology in radicalization (phase 1) could touch on how the violent behavior of the radicalized individuals and groups that follow the ideology might in turn be affected (phase 2) and whether targeted societies react differently to radicals espousing different ideologies (phase 3). Or, a study on the effectiveness of certain counterterrorism measures (phase 2) might examine the possible unintended consequences or side effects of counterterrorist measures relating to the recruitment of new members into terrorist organizations (phase 1).

“In a highly dynamic terrorism context, this series will give START the opportunity to highlight the most exciting empirically based, theoretically innovative research on terrorism," said Gary Ackerman, director of START’s Unconventional Weapons and Technology division.

The first book is planned to be released in 2018. Proposal information and instructions can be found on START’s website.