http://www.loc.gov/mods/v3 http://www.loc.gov/standards/mods/v3/mods-3-2.xsd
xviii, 479 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.
The ability of terrorist groups to inflict death and destruction has markedly increased with technology 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, treament 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."
Foreword by Francis T. Cullun -- Part I. Terrorism in Context : 1. Meeting Deniz -- 2. The History of the Kurds and the PKK -- Part II. The Freedom Fighter's Own Story : Section A. Becoming a Terrorist : 3. The Early Years -- 4. Joining the PKK -- 5. Mission Training -- Section B. Being a Terrorist : 6. Rangers and My First Mission -- 7. Turkish Oppression toward the Kurdish Villagers -- 8. The PKK Organization -- 9. On the Way to Damascus, Syria -- 10. War against Barzani's Peshmerghas -- 11. The Chaotic Situation at Central Headquarters Command -- 12. The Women Guerillas of the Organization -- 13. The War against the YNK -- 14. Internal Conflict within the Organization -- 15. That's All She Wrote! -- 16. The Trip to Amed -- 17. Recruiting New Guerillas -- 18. Decision to Keep My Hands Off -- Section C. Prison and Beyond : 19. Leaving the PKK -- 20. The Prison and the General -- 21. Penitence (Second Thoughts) -- 22. The Turks, the Kurds, and the Last Chance -- Part III. Conclusion : 23. Lessons from a Terrorist's Own Story.
Includes bibliographical references (pages [460]-464) and index.