About this course: Terrorism has arguably been one of the defining factors of our age. It frequently makes headlines, threatening or attacking governments, private business and ordinary citizens. And in many parts of the world, it has been one of the most important threats to peace, security and stability. But what does this exactly mean? What is the nature of this threat? Who or what is threatened, how, by whom and why? What can be done about it or how can we at least limit the impact of terrorism and make sure that terrorists do not make headlines and manage to scare us?

Who is this class for: This course is free, and will remain free for participants. You can purchase a certificate.

Week 1: Welcome & the essence of terrorism

In this module, you can find all the information you need in order to be able to successfully complete the course. After you have familiarised yourself with the course, we move to the content of week 1.

Week 2: Researching Terrorism and Counterterrorism

In this module, you will learn more about terrorism and counterterrorism studies. It is a relatively new field of study that owes much to research in related disciplines.

Week 3: 5 Assumptions on Terrorism

The subject of terrorism often falls prey to unfounded assumptions. Media, politicians, but also scholars frequently make far-reaching claims about this topic, such as the notion that terrorism is caused by poverty.

Week 4: 5 Assumptions on Counterterrorism

In this module, we will continue the work of module 3 and look into five assumptions on counterterrorism.

Week 5: Dealing with Terrorism and the Future

After having tested these assumptions, we will make up the balance sheet. What are some of the remaining “un- and underresearched” topics in (counter)terrorism studies? We will also explore the concepts of fear management and resilience.

Week 6: Making Headlines Today - Foreign Fighters

The final module of this course will look into a highly topical and politically sensitive issue of today: foreign fighters.