PC4S006 - Violent Extremism and Terrorism 01 Sep 2016 - 31 Aug 2022 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PC4S006
Module Title: Violent Extremism and Terrorism
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Psychology
Module Leader: Tim Read
Module Team: Mike Edwards, Mike Edwards
First Intended Intake: SEP 2016 Final Year of Intake: 2013
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100486 - policing
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2016
Valid To 31 Aug 2022

Module Aims

1. To critically analyse knowledge and evidence underpinning official responses to preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism.

2. To critically evaluate the effectiveness of official responses to preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism.

3. To critically apply knowledge and evidence gained to the development of effective approaches to preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism.

Content Summary

Situating violent extremism and terrorism and its official responses within the processes of globalisation and late-modernity. Connecting the global, national and local dimensions of crime control and security. The UK's National Security Strategy. Local patterns of UK policing: the emergence of partnerships, responsible citizens and policing by communities.

Community cohesion and identity as key features of contemporary policy discourses. Social psychological theories on inter-group conflict. The challenges of responding to diverse communities. Case study: British Muslim identity. The role and routes of radicalisation.

Introducing terrorism a “conceptual and definitional challenges. Social scientific perspectives on the subject. 'Old' and 'new' forms of terrorism - case studies: the IRA, Al Qaeda and ISIS. Organisational learning in the context of terrorism and counter-terrorism.

UK strategic responses to countering international terrorism and preventing violent extremism: e.g. the Contest and Prevent strategies. Examples of initiatives and the challenges involved eg in Prevent. The unintended consequences of official counter-terrorism strategies. Case study: Constructing the Muslim community as the new 'suspect community.'

Introducing radicalisation as a multi-dimensional process. Exploring the notion of multiple pathways into and away from radicalisation. Exploring alternative forms of violent extremism-case study: right wing extremism in Europe, and Islamic radicalisation.

Examining the case for situating communities at the heart of preventing violent extremism strategies. Developing more sensitive and nuanced understandings of radicalisation processes , community tensions and the differential meanings attached to particular crimes and disorders, introducing the concepts of 'situational intelligence' and the Signal Crimes Perspective.

Learning the lessons and moving forward. A review of the Prevent agenda. Progress and problems. Recognising Prevent success and the issues raised in delivering a sensitive yet vital programme.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 20
Tutorial 10
Independent Study 80
Directed Study 70
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically evaluate the effectiveness of official responses to preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism
LO2 Critically analyse the role of partnerships and communities in preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism
LO3 Critically apply knowledge and evidence gained the development of effective approaches to preventing violent extremism and countering terrorism

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 2 An essay: critically evaluate a relevant counter terrorism strategy 0 3000 50 No 40
Written Assignment (CW) Essay (CW) 1 An essay: critically evaluate the different aims/structures/Modus Operandi of two terrorist groups 0 3000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3
Essay (CW) 2 ✔ ✔ ✔
Essay (CW) 1 ✔ ✔ ✔

Reading List

Briggs, R., Fieschi, C. and Lownsborough, H. (2006), Bringing it Home: Community-based approaches to counter-terrorism, London: Demos.

Cole, J. and Cole, B. (2009), Martyrdom: Radicalisation and Terrorist Violence Among British Muslims, (pp.21-64), London: Pennant Books.

HM Government (2009), PURSUE, PREVENT, PROTECT, PREPARE: The United Kingdom's Strategy for Countering International Terrorism, London: TSO.

Jackson, B.A. (2004), Organizational Learning and Terrorist Groups, Santa Monica, Ca: The Rand Corporation.

Lowe, T. And Innes, M. (2008), Countering Terror: Violent Radicalisation and Situational Intelligence Prison Service Journal, Sept. 2008 179,(pp.3-10).

House of Commons (2010), Preventing Violent Extremism , House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee: Sixth report of Session 2009-10, Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence: HC 65, London: TSO

Loader, I. and Sparks, R. (2007) (4th edn.), Contemporary Landscapes of Crime, Order, and Control: Governance, Risk and Globalization, in. M. Maguire, R. Morgan and R. Reiner (eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (pp. 79-101), Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Nawaz, M. (2007), In and Out of Islamism, London: The Quilliam Foundation

Neumann, P.R. (2009), Old and New Terrorism, Cambridge: Polity Press

Weston, N. and Innes, M. (2010) Terrorism, in F. Brookman, M. Maguire, H.Pierpoint and T. Bennett (eds.) Handbook on Crime, (pp.846-864) Cullompton: Willan Publishing.

DCLG (2008), Preventing Violent Extremism: Next Steps for Communities (2008), London: Department for Communities and Local Government

Home Office (2010) What perceptions do the UK public have concerning the impact of counter-terrorism legislation implemented since 2000? London: The Home Office.

Meleagrou-Hitchens, A. and Standing, E. (2010) Blood & Honour: Britain's Far-Right Militants, London, The Centre for Social Cohesion.

Newburn, T. (2009), Crime prevention and community safety, in C. Rogers and B. Blakemore (eds.) Problem Oriented Partnerships: A Reader, (pp. 24-72), Cullompton: Willan Publishing

Rogers, C. and Coliandris, G. (2008) The government's terrorism strategy: implications for partnerships, in Safer Communities, Vol 7, Issue 3: 17-21 (online journal).

Ronczkowski , M.R. (2004), Ch.2 Understanding and Defining Terrorism in Terrorism and Organized Intelligence Gathering, Analysis, and Investigations, Boca Raton, Fl: CRC Press.

http://www.popcenter.org/ - website for Center for Problem Oriented Policing (USA).

http://www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/ The Crime Reduction web site at the Home Office.

http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/ The UK Office for Security and Counter-Terrorism website

http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/ UK Department for Communities and Local Government website

http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/reports/national\\_security.aspx The UK Cabinet Office publications web site

http://www.idea.gov.uk/idk/core/page.do?pageId=1 The Improvement and Development Agency for local government UK website