Origins of Terrorism: The Rise of the World’s Most Formidable Terrorist Groups

Origins of Terrorism: The Rise of the World’s Most Formidable Terrorist Groups examines the roots of Islamic terrorism, it’s history, and some of the foundational figures in prominent terrorist organizations. Throughout, the book also addresses the use of terrorism, the "hows" and "whys" of terrorists’ goals, and their modus operandi.

Historically, insurgency operations have formed the basis of a number of terrorist groups—resistance to western powers, particularly the United States, and what is viewed as their unwanted interference in regional affairs. Sections are devoted to individual terror organizations, including some of the most well-known and resilient global movements—Al Qaeda, ISIS, the Taliban, and Boko Haram, among others. Coverage details where and how they originated, who the principal organizers were, how these individuals worked—or didn’t work—together. In this, the authors look at the circumstances that allowed for these leaders, and their groups’, development and success.

In this, the authors expose interesting, little-known stories and facts about the specific upbringing, family life, and personal narrative around these organizations’ founders, as well as ties to other terrorist founders and organizations. For example, the relationship between individuals such as Osama bin Laden and Musab al Zarkawi (aka Ahmad al-Khalayleh)—the founder of ‘Al Qaeda in Iraq’ (AQI), which became ISIS—is examined in detail, providing readers with some of the "stories behind the stories" to understand the prominent figures and underpinnings of major terrorist organizations’ philosophies, formation, and elements that have led to their staying power.

Origins of Terrorism will be a valuable resource for security and intelligence professionals, terrorism researchers, and students, providing a unique perspective to understand terrorism and terror movements in considering counterterror efforts.

Dr. Godfrey Garner holds a PhD in counseling psychology from Mississippi State University. Following two tours in Viet Nam and a lengthy break in military service, Dr. Garner rejoined and eventually retired from 20th Special Forces group in 2006. He completed two military, and six civilian government-related tours in Afghanistan. His work in Afghanistan most recently has been as a counterinsurgency intelligence analyst. He is published in Homeland Security Today, Journal of American Diplomacy and Foreign Policy Journal on issues relating to Afghanistan. He is the author of the novels Danny Kane and the Hunt for Mullah Omar, Clothed in White Raiment, and The Balance of Exodus, coauthor of Intelligence Analysis Fundamentals, published by Taylor Francis CRC, as well as an upcoming memoir on Vietnam entitled Brothers in the Mekong Delta: A Memoir of PBR Section 513 in the Vietnam War. He is a permanent faculty professor at Mississippi College, as well as adjunct at Tulane University and Belhaven University, in Homeland Security and Counterterrorism.

holds an MA in International Security and Homeland Defense and a graduate certificate in Terrorism Analysis. She is an Adjunct Professor in: Terrorism and Risk Analysis for Arapahoe Community College out of Colorado. She is a subject matter expert and consultant in Counterterrorism for Guidepoint. She was the Project Coordinator for Project Arrowhead, a Department of Homeland Security-funded countering violent extremism project through Mississippi College. She was an Anti-Terrorism specialist and a consultant for a physical security company out of Texas, Specialized Risk, LLC. She was the lead policy analyst at the Institute for National Security Studies onsite at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, working arms control, nonproliferation and strategic stability issues for the Air Force. She has fifteen years of experience working for the Department of Defense, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and every branch of the military. She was a terrorism instructor at the Defense Nuclear Weapons School where she created the school’s first course on Female Suicide Bombers. She was asked to present her research on Female Recruitment and Radicalization Online at the Women’s Peace and Security Conference in 2015. Her research was published in the book, "Impunity: Countering Illicit Power in War and Transition" by the National Defense University. She is also a contributing author in the book "Online Terrorist Propaganda, Recruitment, and Radicalization", by CRC Press. She has worked in countering violent extremism and social media monitoring for the last nine years. She has worked with State, Federal, and Military first responders as well as international students and has traveled to various military bases throughout the United States instructing response to radiological terrorism.