This fall, IWP will offer a new two-credit course entitled American Domestic Terrorism in the Modern Era (IWP 695). It will be taught by Aaron Danis, a career terrorism and counterterrorism specialist and adjunct faculty member at IWP.
Prof. Danis commented: “This course is being offered this fall in lieu of the regular IWP 633 Terrorism course because of all the of the focus in the last year on the policy issues surrounding domestic terrorism. In June, the Biden administration issued a first-ever national strategy focusing on domestic terrorism, so it is prudent to review the history, current threat, and proposed response. This course will do that in 8 weeks.”
This course examines the uniquely U.S. domestic dimensions of terrorism and their sometimes-associated transnational patterns and problems. The course opens with a review of modern history of American domestic terrorism, from leftist-inspired terror in the 1960s and 70s to right-wing anti-government groups in the 1990s to current domestic terrorist threats.
Most of the course then emphasizes the recent and the current in its selections of events, source materials, questions, and challenges.
Students will examine the different dimensions of domestic terrorist strategies, as well as the use of specific elements of national power to defeat these strategies through an integrated homeland security, intelligence, and law enforcement approach.
This course may be taken as a part of the Master of Arts in Statecraft and National Security Affairs, Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence Studies, Master of Arts in Strategic and International Studies (Professional), Certificate in Counterintelligence, Certificate in Counterterrorism, Certificate in National Security Affairs, or the Continuing Education Program. This new course may substitute for Strategic Terrorism (IWP 633) in all programs.
Prof. Danis is a retired U.S. Army intelligence officer and has served in the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Treasury Department, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.