Routledge Islam and Sectarian Violence in Pakistan: The Terror Within (Routledge Critical Terrorism Studies)

This book analyses the growth of sectarian-based terrorist violence in Pakistan, one of the Muslim majority states most affected by sectarian violence, ever since it was established in 1947. Sectarian violence among Muslims has emerged as a major global security problem in recent years. The author argues that the upsurge in sectarian violence in Pakistan, particularly since the late 1970s, has had less to do with theological differences between the various sects of Islam, but is a consequence of the specific political, social, economic, demographic and cultural changes that have taken place in Pakistan since it was established as an independent state. A major theme of the book is the increasing violence, extent and expressions of sectarian conflict which have emerged as new forms of sectarian terrorism. The volume provides an in-depth empirical case study which addresses some major theoretical questions raised by Critical Terrorism Studies researchers in respect of the links between religion and sectarian terrorism in Pakistan and more widely. This book will be of much interest to students of critical terrorism studies, Asian politics and history, religious studies and International Relations in general. Review 'Unlike some other works on this topic, Murphy’s presentation is highly readable and includes a helpful glossary for nonspecialists and other interested readers who might feel overwhelmed when approaching the terminology for the first time. This makes his book an excellent introductory work for undergraduates in various fields, journalists covering terrorist incidents as they unfold, and security analysts who probably are not steeped in jargon or otherwise already familiar with sectarian Islam and Pakistani politics. Eamon Murphy successfully resists the temptation to write a meaningful academic work that can only be read by academics. Without oversimplifying, he explains what actual religious rivalries in Pakistan are hinged upon by making plain how sectarianism became politicised.'--Adil Hussain Khan, Critical Studies on Terrorism 'With evident mastery of social sciences and religious studies, Eamon Murphy has given us a masterful narrative that explains Pakistan’s history like few others I have read. ... Having read this volume, I sincerely hope it receives a wide readership that it so richly deserves.'--Dipak Gupta, Terrorism and Political Violence vol. 31, No. 4 'Murphy’s book is a master tome well worth the read. It belongs in the library of any serious student of geopolitics in South Asia.'-- Mark J. Roberts, Journal of Strategic Security, Vol. 12, No. 1 About the Author Eamon Murphy is Adjunct Professor in the School of Media, Creative Arts and Social Inquiry at Curtin University in Western Australia. His publications include The Making of Terrorism in Pakistan (Routledge, 2013) and Contemporary State Terrorism (co-edited with Richard Jackson and Scott Poynting, Routledge, 2010).