How do terrorists become politicians? This book embraces a series of comparative case studies in order to examine important issues regarding the relationship between terrorism and political processes. 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. The volume offers a presentation of how some terrorist groups see the world in which they live. It also provides an understanding of how established democracies such as the US react to the phenomenon of the terrorist-politician transition. This is a useful resource for students and scholars of international relations, political ethics and comparative politics.

    Introduction, Rachael M.Rudolph; Chapter 1 A Successful ‘Turn Over’, Anisseh VanEngeland; Chapter 2 Hezbollah, Anisseh VanEngeland; Chapter 3 Political Movements in the Making, Anisseh VanEngeland; Chapter 4 A Political Movement to make Peace or War? Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) and Batasuna – the Impossible Truce, Anisseh VanEngeland; Chapter 5 The Islamic Resistance Movement in Palestine (Hamas), Rachael M.Rudolph; Chapter 6 The Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, Rachael M.Rudolph; Chapter 7 The Islamic Salvation Front, Rachael M.Rudolph; Chapter 8 Failed Attempts, Anisseh VanEngeland; Chapter 9 Transition in the Philippines, Rachael M.Rudolph; Chapter 10 Terrorism all the Way! Nihilist Groups, Anisseh VanEngeland; Chapter 101 Conclusion, Rachael M.Rudolph;

    Biography

    Anisseh Van Engeland, Max Weber Fellow at European University Institute, Assistant Professor, James Madison University, and free lance consultant, USA and Rachael M. Rudolph, Assistant Professor at Emory & Henry College and Instructor at West Virginia University, USA

    'The question of which factors lead armed groups to abandon violence and embrace politics to achieve their objectives is very relevant for contemporary security. This volume explores this issue in great detail and through a very strong analysis of a number of case studies it makes an important contribution to our understanding of how terrorists become politicians and how armed groups become political parties.' Francesco Cavatorta, Dublin City University, Ireland '[This book] contains superb essays on why some terrorists and their organizations have successfully transformed themselves to politicians while others have failed...This is an excellent volume for students and scholars of international relations, comparative politics, and political ethics. Highly recommended.' Choice