National Security Studies
Midterm Exam
Course Introduction
National Security Studies introduces students to the foundational concepts, institutions, and policies that shape a nation's security strategy in the contemporary world. The course explores the political, military, economic, and societal dimensions of security, examining both traditional and emerging threats including terrorism, cyber warfare, and transnational crime. Through analysis of historical events, theoretical frameworks, and current case studies, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the strategies governments employ to protect their interests and citizens. Emphasis is placed on policy formulation, intelligence gathering, international cooperation, and the ethical challenges associated with maintaining security in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Recommended Textbook
Understanding Terrorism Challenges Perspectives and Issues 6th Edition by Gus Martin
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Page 2
Chapter 1: Terrorism: First Impressions
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Q1) In medieval Europe, behavior that the modern world considers to be terrorism was common in warfare.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q2) Guy Fawkes was responsible for which of the following?
A) the Reign of Terror
B) the Gunpowder Plot
C) the Luddites
D) the sicarii
Answer: B
Q3) Ramzi Yousef bombed the World Trade Center.
A)True
B)False
Answer: True
Q4) Theodore "Ted" Kaczynski was a member of the neo-Nazi movement in the United States.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Page 3
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Chapter 2: The Nature of the Beast: Defining Terrorism
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Q1) The statement "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice" ______.
A) represents an explanation for how and why violent extremists justify their violent actions
B) was a rallying slogan used during the 1964 U.S. presidential election
C) neither "represents an explanation for how and why violent extremists justify their violent actions" nor "was a rallying slogan used during the 1964 U.S. presidential election"
D) both "represents an explanation for how and why violent extremists justify their violent actions" and "was a rallying slogan used during the 1964 U.S. presidential election"
Answer: D
Q2) Among participants in a terrorist environment, which of the following serves as a patron for the terrorists?
A) the onlooker
B) the analyst
C) the supporter
D) none of these
Answer: C
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4
Chapter 3: Beginnings: the Causes of Terrorism
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Sample Questions
Q1) During Black September, the police fired on peaceful protesters.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
Q2) One reason that Western democracies regularly denounce political violence is because ______.
A) there are more conventional reasons for using political violence
B) political violence is a dishonorable practice
C) it is often directed against the West by adversaries
D) it is immoral behavior
Answer: C
Q3) During Bloody Sunday, ______.
A) soldiers fired on civilian protesters
B) a series of suicide bombings occurred
C) several airliners were hijacked
D) a series of public bombings occurred
Answer: A
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Chapter 4: Terror From Above: Terrorism by the State
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Q1) Senator Joseph McCarthy presided over a period known as "McCarthyism" that involved which of the following countermeasures?
A) the "Palmer Raids"
B) internment camps
C) Senate hearings and investigations
D) suspension of the writ of habeas corpus
Q2) Which of the following statements regarding death squads in Latin America is most accurate?
A) Death squads have been used in the international war on terrorism.
B) Death squads assisted in the recovery and burial of victims of political violence.
C) Death squads were a product of cult-like opposition to government authority.
D) Death squads were often supported by elites and governments to carry out extra-legal acts of violence.
Q3) State terrorism involves the overt use of force abroad.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In what ways does state terrorism pose a more significant threat to the international community than do non-state terrorist groups?
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Chapter 5: Terror From Below: Terrorism by Dissidents
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Q1) Using the case of Palestinian violence against Israeli interests, discuss the Maoist concepts of "people's war" and "war of national liberation." Discuss why the Palestinian nationalist movement has been viable for decades despite repeated setbacks and constant Israeli pressure.
Q2) Which of the following statements is most accurate?
A) Cell-based organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks.
B) Paramilitary organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated with the breakdown of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere.
C) Most violent extremists engage in lone-wolf attacks.
D) Both "cell-based organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks" and "paramilitary organizational arrangements among violent extremists proliferated with the breakdown of authoritarian regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere."
Q3) In your opinion, is nihilist violence ever justifiable? Briefly explain your answer.
Q4) Discuss why the new terrorist morality occurred.
Q5) In your opinion, are rebels sometimes labeled too quickly as terrorists?
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Page 7
Chapter 6: Violence in the Name of the Faith: Religious Terrorism
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Q1) Radical Christian and Muslim extremists are arguably similar in that they are "exclusivist" in their beliefs. Which of the following best summarizes this tendency?
A) They believe that their faith tradition is the "one True faith."
B) They believe that their faith tradition is compatible with other faith traditions.
C) They believe that their faith tradition may have flaws, but it is basically a good tradition.
D) None of these.
Q2) Why does Holocaust denial persist?
Q3) Only Muslims engage in religious terrorism.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Most major faiths have members who resort to violence. Which major faith do you think engages in less violence than others?
Q5) In what ways have India and Pakistan justified their proxy wars against each other? How has religion been used as a central motive behind their conflict? Explain your answer.
Q6) Briefly discuss the threat from apocalyptic cults such as Aum Shinriky .
Page 8
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Chapter 7: Violent Ideologies: Terrorism From the Left and Right
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Q1) Briefly discuss the threat from radical leftist single-issue groups.
Q2) Which of the following statements most accurately describes the general profile of Latin American left-wing terrorism in the latter quarter of the 20th century?
A) roving bands of guerrillas taking refuge in swamps, jungles, and forests
B) mostly young urban revolutionaries, and several examples of guerrilla movements
C) urban terrorism
D) international terrorists who cooperated with other international movements
Q3) In your opinion, why did revolutionary Marxism become the predominant ideology of the extreme left rather than revolutionary anarchism?
Q4) Marxists traditionally believe that the demise of capitalism ______.
A) cannot occur without democratic reform
B) will inevitably occur after democratic reform
C) is historically inevitable
D) both "cannot occur without democratic reform" and "will inevitably occur after democratic reform"
Q5) What was the general profile of European left-wing terrorism in the latter quarter of the 20th century?
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Chapter 8: Terrorist Spillovers: International Terrorism
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Q1) How does the example of Armenian terrorist violence against Turkish interests explain the notion that history is a potent motivation for international terrorism?
Q2) Which of the following propositions best summarizes the attributes of strong multipolar terrorist environments?
A) Revolutionary movements are independent of government constraints.
B) Several governments support their favored groups.
C) Several governments support their favored groups, but many of these groups are relatively independent.
D) A single state sponsor supports international terrorism.
Q3) Briefly describe Cold War terrorist-networking theory. Compare and contrast this understanding of terrorist networks with the growth of the Al-Qa'ida-like networks.
Q4) The March 2004 bombings in Madrid are an example of effective terrorism. A)True B)False
Q5) Discuss why transportation carriers and nodes are selected for attack by terrorists.
Q6) Why has Europe been a frequent location for international terrorism?
Q7) How do "sleeper cells" manage to remain viable?
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Chapter 9: Emerging Terrorist Environments:
Gender-Selective Political Violence and Criminal Dissident
Terrorism
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Q1) Is it fair to discuss gender-related cultural practices within the contexts of repression and political violence against women?
Q2) Briefly discuss why traditional criminal enterprises engage in narco-terrorism or other forms of violence against the state or other public interests.
Q3) At what point does classic criminal activity become terrorism? Describe this transition.
Q4) In what ways does cultural second-class status for women create a potential environment for political repression?
Q5) Terrorists and other extremist movements stay away from the drug trade as a matter of principle.
A)True
B)False
Q6) Does it make sense to deem gender-selective political violence as a distinct variety of terrorism? Or, should such violence be classified under other forms of conflict and terrorism? Explain your answer.
Q7) In your opinion, how would the legalization of drugs affect the incidence of criminal dissident terrorism globally? Page 11
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Chapter 10: Tools of the Trade: Tactics and Targets of Terrorists
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Q1) Threats to cybersecurity include which of the following?
A) cyberterrorism
B) cyberattack
C) cyber sabotage
D) both "cyberterrorism" and "cyberattack"
Q2) The King David Hotel bombing arguably led to events that
A) ended British occupation of Palestine.
B) ended Spain's involvement in the Iraq war.
C) ended the U.S. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
D) none of these.
Q3) The threat from weapons of mass destruction is that they are easily obtained.
A)True
B)False
Q4) In your opinion, what are the likely implications of the availability of information on the Internet from the perspective of extremists?
Q5) How can the effectiveness of a terrorist incident be measured?
Q6) The purpose of a dirty bomb is to poison water supplies.
A)True
B)False
Q7) What is the purpose of "signature methods?" Page 13
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Page 14
Chapter 11: The Information Battleground: Terrorist Violence
and the Role of the Media
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Q1) Which of the following propositions is most accurate regarding the state-regulated press?
A) The government actively tries to control the reporting of news concerning violent extremists.
B) The government relies on journalistic self-regulation.
C) The media engage in gatekeeping.
D) Both "the government relies on journalistic self-regulation" and "the media engage in gatekeeping."
Q2) Should media gatekeeping be regulated in an active terrorist environment?
Q3) In the United States, which of the following ethical standards are recommended when reporting terrorist incidents?
A) avoid unchallenged terrorist propaganda
B) never try to solve a situation
C) do not serve as a spokesman/accomplice of the terrorists
D) all of these
Q4) In what ways can the language used (and reported) by the media affect our perceptions of terrorists and extremists?
Q5) In your opinion, what kind of news reporting environment is preferable when terrorist incidents occur? Explain your answer.
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Chapter 12: The American Case: Terrorism in the United States
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Q1) Christian Identity, Creativity, and Asatru are examples of ______.
A) Christian civil rights movements
B) racist mystical movements
C) intellectual trends on the fringe right wing
D) none of these
Q2) Targets of the ALF and ELF include which of the following?
A) banks and other symbols of "capitalist exploitation"
B) wealthy members of the "ruling class"
C) laboratories, facilities where animals are kept, vehicles, and construction
D) both "banks and other symbols of 'capitalist exploitation'" and "wealthy members of the 'ruling class'"
Q3) Which of the following tendencies are often found on the far and fringe right wing?
A) antigovernment sentiment
B) racial supremacist sentiment
C) conspiracy theories
D) all of these
Q4) Discuss the implications of leaderless resistance, survivalism, and being "off the grid" in the United States.
Q5) Briefly discuss the pattern and attributes of Ku Klux Klan terrorism.
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Chapter 13: Counterterrorism: the Options
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Q1) What is the role of intelligence agencies? How is intelligence collected?
Q2) The Mossad is an Israeli security agency similar to the MI-6 and the CIA.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Among warlike options, which applications of force are most appropriate when combating terrorism? In your opinion, which options are most effective? Which options are least effective? Explain your answer.
Q4) Describe the theory and application of economic sanctions as a counterterrorist methodology. How useful are economic sanctions as a counterterrorist option? Explain your answer.
Q5) The Entebbe and Mogadishu operations are good examples of what kind of counterterrorist methodology? What is a basic risk with this option?
Q6) Is assassination an acceptable counterterrorist option? Explain your answer.
Q7) The United States has never negotiated with terrorists or extremists.
A)True
B)False
Q8) Discuss the use of international criminal tribunals in bringing terrorists and others to justice. Do you think this is an effective option?
Page 17
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Chapter 14: A New Era: Homeland Security
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Q1) After the domestic attacks of September 11, 2001, which of the following problems were identified in the federal bureaucracy?
A) entrenched and cumbersome bureaucratic cultures and procedures
B) long-standing interagency rivalries
C) fragmentation of counterterrorist operations
D) all of these
Q2) Enhanced interrogations pose which of the following challenges to the protection of civil liberties?
A) legal protections should be enforced for suspects
B) illicit kidnappings and detentions violate local and international laws
C) high potential for racial profiling
D) torture, however defined, is fundamentally immoral
Q3) How effective do you think the private "watchdog" agencies are in monitoring governments?
Q4) Why do you think many people favor the use of extra-legal options as a counterterrorist option?
Q5) Extraordinary renditions are a well-regarded legalistic counterterrorist option.
A)True
B)False
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Chapter 15: What Next the Future of Terrorism
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Q1) How likely is it that the "old terrorism" will be revived?
Q2) Compare and contrast the potential for terrorist violence in the United States from the left and right. What type of potential violence could occur from each? In your opinion, which source of terrorist violence is more likely to occur? Explain your answers.
Q3) How will governments counter terrorist financial operations in the near future?
Q4) In your opinion, which regions will continue to experience the most likely incidence of terrorist threats?
Q5) Modern surveillance technologies are expected to continue to be used to access which of the following?
A) telephone records and conversations
B) computer communications such as e-mail
C) credit card records
D) all of these
Q6) Regional conflicts are not expected to produce many incidents of communal terrorism in the near future.
A)True
B)False
Q7) How prevalent should surveillance technology be? Why?
19
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