Democracies Against Terror: The Western Response to State-Supported Terrorism: 134 (Washington Papers) - Softcover

Levitt, Geoffrey M.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 027593022X ISBN 13: 9780275930226

Publisher: Praeger, 1988

Synopsis

Levitt, whose background includes degrees in political science and law and who has worked as a legal advisor in the Department of State, concentrates on the phenomenon of state-supported terrorism. . . . Excellent study on both the legalities and political hesitations in counterterrorism. Choice In Democracies against Terror, Geoffrey Levitt displays the skills of a practicing international lawyer as well as the insights of a thoughtful scholar. Expecially impressive are his discussion of the thorny problems of defining terrorism and his sensible prescriptions for policymakers. A major contribution to the literature. John F. Murphy, Villanova University This timely monography examines one of the most ambitious and potentially powerful efforts to achieve effective international cooperation against terrorism--that of the Summit Seven states. It is based on documentary, press, and secondary sources, interviews with relevant officials of the governments involved, as well as the author's experience as legal counsel to the U.S. State Department Office for Combatting Terrorism (1983-1986). Policy professionals and students of international politics and law will welcome this scholarly treatment of the interaction among policy, politics, and law in a sensitive area of international activity. The study traces Summit Seven initiatives on terrorism since the beginning of the group's attention to the issue in 1978. Summit declarations on various forms of terrorism are discussed and the political and technical follow-up to these declarations by the involved governments are described. Subsequent chapters analyze the actual responses of the Seven governments -- jointly and individually -- to six selected terrorist incidents. The book also describes major international frameworks outside the Summit where counterterrorism cooperation has been pursued, and discusses their relationship to Summit Seven efforts. Finally, conclusions are drawn about whether -- and how -- governments might cooperate more realistically and effectively against international terrorism.

About this title

Review:

"Geoffrey Levitt, who served as counsel to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Combating Terrorism, dissects the efforts of the world's non-Communist powers to pressure sponsoring-power states. Levitt, in his analysis, calls for a more structured operational procedure among the powers-which include Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the U.K., United States and West Germany. He suggests the use of formalized, parallel procedures in each government rather the formation of some new, international body. To buttress his conclusions, Levitt follows the international initiatives of the Western economic/political group, starting in 1978. He also highlights the governments' reactions--collectively and individually--to half a dozen terrorist incidents."-Briefing: Terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict

"In Democracies against Terror, Geoffrey Levitt displays the skills of a practicing international lawyer as well as the insights of a thoughtful scholar. Expecially impressive are his discussion of the thorny problems of defining terrorism and his sensible prescriptions for policymakers. A major contribution to the literature."-John F. Murphy Professor of Law, Villanova University

?In Democracies against Terror, Geoffrey Levitt displays the skills of a practicing international lawyer as well as the insights of a thoughtful scholar. Expecially impressive are his discussion of the thorny problems of defining terrorism and his sensible prescriptions for policymakers. A major contribution to the literature.?-John F. Murphy Professor of Law, Villanova University

?Geoffrey Levitt, who served as counsel to the U.S. Department of State's Office of Combating Terrorism, dissects the efforts of the world's non-Communist powers to pressure sponsoring-power states. Levitt, in his analysis, calls for a more structured operational procedure among the powers-which include Canada, France, Italy, Japan, the U.K., United States and West Germany. He suggests the use of formalized, parallel procedures in each government rather the formation of some new, international body. To buttress his conclusions, Levitt follows the international initiatives of the Western economic/political group, starting in 1978. He also highlights the governments' reactions--collectively and individually--to half a dozen terrorist incidents.?-Briefing: Terrorism and Low Intensity Conflict

Synopsis:

An examination of the efforts of the Summit Seven states to achieve effective international co-operation against freedom. It is based on documentary, press, and secondary sources, interviews with relevant officials of the governments involved, as well as the author's experience as legal counsel to the US State Department Office for Combatting Terrorism (1983-1986). The study traces Summit Seven initiatives on terrorism since the beginning of the group's attention to the issue in 1978. Summit declarations on various forms of terrorism are discussed and the political and technical follow-up to these declarations by the involved governments are described. Subsequent chapters analyze the actual responses of the Seven governments - jointly and individually - to six selected terrorist incidents. The book also describes major international frameworks outside the Summit where counterterrorism co-operation has been pursued, and discusses their relationship to Summit Seven efforts. Finally, conclusions are drawn about whether - and how - governments might co-operate more realistically and effectively against international terrorism.

About this edition

• Publisher: Praeger
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 027593022X
• ISBN 13: 9780275930226
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 160