From Terrorism to Politics (Ethics and Global Politics)

How do terrorists become politicians? Through a series of comparative case studies important issues regarding the relationship between terrorism and political processes are examined. It identifies the characteristics necessary for the transition from a 'terrorist' organization to a political party and situates this within broader debates about substantive ethical concerns motivating the distinction between legitimate politics and illegitimate violence.This book provides: an innovative approach to how terrorist groups convert into political groups; an understanding of how established democracies such as the US react to this phenomenon; a presentation of how some terrorist groups see the world in which they live; and a rich variety of comparative case studies to understand similarities and differences that exist in the process of politicization.This is a useful resource for students and scholars of international relations, political ethics and comparative politics.