Globalisation and the New Terror

The Asia Pacific Dimension

Edited by David Martin Jones, Visiting Professor, Department of War Studies, King’s College London and Honorary Professor, Humanities Research Institute, University of Buckingham, UK

This rigorously analytical yet readable book examines trends in new terror – understood here to be the capacity of sub-state actors to secure religious or politically motivated objectives by violent means. The contributors argue that whilst the use of violence to achieve political ends is scarcely original, what distinguishes new terror is its potential for lethality. This, combined with its evolving capacity to draw upon the resources of globalisation, particularly the revolution in communications which has advanced global markets, has also rendered them, and the more developed core states in the international trading order, increasingly vulnerable to asymmetric threats.

‘This thought provoking and insightful study into the theoretical and policy implications of the new terrorism is particularly timely and welcome because much remains obscure in this field. The book provides valuable insight into not just the nature of terrorism, the tactics and strategies used by terrorists, and the responses available to western states, but also into asymmetric threats as a defining feature of contemporary conflict. It is also one of the few serious attempts to understand the strategies and financing of terror networks in the Asia Pacific region.’
– Alice Hills, Joint Services Command and Staff College, King’s College, London, UK