Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/911-attack

Introduction

### Course Review: Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today In a world where terrorism remains a topical issue, Coursera offers a profoundly insightful course titled **"Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today."** This course is a critical resource for anyone seeking to comprehend the complexities behind the events of September 11, 2001, the ideology that fueled such catastrophic actions, and the subsequent global responses. #### Course Overview The course is structured in seven comprehensive weeks, each addressing pivotal topics that contribute to an overarching understanding of the 9/11 attacks and the multifaceted nature of terrorism today. From examining the ideology of al-Qaida to the processes of radicalization and counterterrorism strategies, this course is designed to foster a deep understanding of the forces that shape our current world. #### Syllabus Breakdown **Week 1: Course Overview and the 9/11 Attacks** The course kicks off by exploring the rationale behind al-Qaida's decision to attack America. It delves into the broader phenomenon of terrorism, the psychological appeal of extremist ideologies, and how the U.S. policy landscape evolved in response to the attacks. This foundational week sets the stage for understanding the complexities of terrorism. **Week 2: What is Terrorism?** Moving into definitions and debates surrounding terrorism, this week challenges learners to grapple with the ambiguity of the term itself—addressing whether states can also commit acts deemed as terrorism. Enhancing writing skills through crafting policy memos adds a practical element to the learning process. **Week 3: A Primer on Islam** This week features a notable dialogue with Imam Abdullah Antepli, offering an enlightening look at Islamic history and contemporary issues faced by Muslims post-9/11. Such discussions illuminate the diverse perspectives within Islam and dismantle stereotypes, providing context to the conversations on terrorism. **Week 4: The al Qai'da Ideology** The course takes a deep dive into the beliefs and motivations that drive al-Qaida. Understanding the ideology is crucial for grasping why individuals would consider radical actions, thereby enhancing the learner's knowledge of psychological and sociopolitical pressures. **Week 5: The Radicalization Process** Here, complexity takes center stage as the course unpacks the various pathways to radicalization, recognizing that this process cannot be simplified into a singular narrative. Insights from experts like Peter Neumann enrich the understanding of how individuals become radicalized. **Week 6: Counterterrorism Before 9/11** This week reflects on the U.S. responses to terrorism prior to 9/11, educating learners about the philosophical underpinnings of these policies, which is essential for contextualizing post-9/11 actions. **Week 7: September 12, 2001** Concluding the course, a discussion with former White House counter-terrorism adviser Juan Zarate provides insider perspectives on changes in U.S. counter-terrorism strategies and examines the evolving threats from groups like ISIS, as well as geopolitical developments impacting U.S. security. #### Things to Consider - **Engagement**: The course is designed to be engaging, with interviews and discussions with notable experts that allow learners to connect theory with real-world implications. - **Diverse Perspectives**: The inclusion of voices from Islamic scholars and counter-terrorism advisors provides a well-rounded exploration of the issues at hand. - **Practical Skills**: The course not only educates but also equips learners with practical writing skills through policy memo assignments, making it applicable beyond theoretical understanding. #### Recommendation I highly recommend **"Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today"** for anyone interested in politics, international relations, or security studies, as well as those looking to gain a nuanced perspective on a topic that continues to shape global events. The course balances scholarly rigor with accessibility, making it suitable for both novices and those with prior knowledge of the subject. Overall, it promises to be an enlightening and transformative experience that not only unveils the historical roots and consequences of the events of 9/11 but also encourages critical thinking about our world's ongoing struggles with terrorism.

Syllabus

Week 1: Course Overview and the 9/11 Attacks

In this course, we will examine why al Qai-da attacked America. We will also examine the phenomenon of terrorism, in general, and the radical ideology developed and propagated by Osama bin Laden through al Qaida, more specifically. We will consider why individuals are attracted to this ideology and how they radicalize to violence. We will also explore how the United States addressed terrorism prior to 9/11 and the policy changes the US (and its allies around the globe) faced in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

Our topic for this week is, what is terrorism. We will try to define terrorism and understand the actions that we're going to be studying in this course, 9/11 and its aftermath. We will examine one of the key debates in this area; can terrorism be executed by a state, or is it only the use of political violence by a non-state actor. You will also learn how to write a policy memo.

This week we have a special treat: we will have an extensive conversation with Imam Abdullah Antepli, the Islamic Chaplin here at Duke. We’ll cover a wide range of topics, including Islamic history, law, the role of women and the Muslim experience in the post – 9/11 world.

Our topic for this week is the al Qaeda ideology. An ideology is essentially the set of beliefs that an individual, a group, or an organization has to either motivate them or to give that organization purpose. For al Qaeda, of course this is incredibly important because they're trying to motivate individuals to sacrifice their lives for what they view as a great cause.

This week we’ll examine how individuals become radicalized. We’ll see that there are multiple paths to radicalization where opportunity and chance play a significant role. Thus, radicalization is a complex process that defies simple explanation. We’ll conclude with a conversation with Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization.

This week we’ll examine the three main US political philosophies that underlie the country’s approach to counterterrorism. We’ll look at the beginnings of the US response to this growing threat and how US agencies involved in counterterrorism efforts have adapted over time. Finally, we’ll examine how the US attempted to combat Osama bin Laden’s growing threat to US security.

In this final week of the course we’ll speak with Juan Zarate , one of the key White House counter terrorism advisers in the second Bush administration, about US counterterrorism efforts since 9/11. We’ll look at the current state of threats to US interests from emerging actors, such as ISIS. Finally, we’ll look at the recent developments in the Middle East that affect US security.