The American nation can not possibly combat terrorism with an understanding of the mindset and motivations of adversaries, said author Louise Richardson, on the television show Books of Our Time, a one-hour program produced by the Massachusetts School of Law (MSLAW). Richardson is the Executive Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Richardson was interviewed for a full hour by Lawrence R. Velvel, Dean of MSLAW about her new book: “What the Terrorists want: Understanding the Enemy, Containing the Threat.”
Growing up in Northern Ireland as a Catholic, Richardson was exposed to a constant terrorist threat. Because of her experience, she has set out to bring light to what motivates terrorists around the world, especially focusing on how actions are perceived or misinterpreted thus resulting in the beginning of a new cycle of violence. She also suggests that often the motivations of political and religious groups become emerged in raw emotion – blurring rationality – and ultimately driving fanatical violent behaviors.
Richardson believes that one cannot physically destroy every terrorist group or be successful in deterring the terrorist threat. By beginning to understand the terrorists’ motivations, each threat can be handled in a manner so to not fuel other fanatical groups who may themselves feel threatened. Richardson believes that we must understand radical groups in order to effectively solve problems; this is not to say one must agree with their motivations.The American nation can not possibly combat terrorism with an understanding of the mindset and motivations of adversaries, said author Louis...all »The American nation can not possibly combat terrorism with an understanding of the mindset and motivations of adversaries, said author Louise Richardson, on the television show Books of Our Time, a one-hour program produced by the Massachusetts School of Law (MSLAW). Richardson is the Executive Dean of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University. Richardson was interviewed for a full hour by Lawrence R. Velvel, Dean of MSLAW about her new book: “What the Terrorists want: Understanding the Enemy, Containing the Threat.”
Growing up in Northern Ireland as a Catholic, Richardson was exposed to a constant terrorist threat. Because of her experience, she has set out to bring light to what motivates terrorists around the world, especially focusing on how actions are perceived or misinterpreted thus resulting in the beginning of a new cycle of violence. She also suggests that often the motivations of political and religious groups become emerged in raw emotion – blurring rationality – and ultimately driving fanatical violent behaviors.
Richardson believes that one cannot physically destroy every terrorist group or be successful in deterring the terrorist threat. By beginning to understand the terrorists’ motivations, each threat can be handled in a manner so to not fuel other fanatical groups who may themselves feel threatened. Richardson believes that we must understand radical groups in order to effectively solve problems; this is not to say one must agree with their motivations.«
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