Table Of ContentUnderstanding Apocalyptic
Terrorism
This book explores a cross- cultural worldview called ‘radical apocalypti-
cism’ that underlies the majority of terrorist movements in the twenty- first
century.
Although not all apocalypticism is violent, in its extreme forms radical
apocalypticism gives rise to terrorists as varied as members of Al Qaeda,
Anders Behring Breivik, or Timothy McVeigh. In its secular variations, it
also motivates ideological terrorists, such as the eco- terrorists Earth Libera-
tion Front or The Unabomber, Ted Kaczynski. This book provides an ori-
ginal paradigm for distinguishing between peaceful and violent or radical
forms of apocalypticism and analyzes the history, major transformations,
and characteristics of the apocalyptic thought system. Using an inter-
disciplinary and cross- cultural approach, this book discusses the mecha-
nisms of radicalization and dynamics of perceived oppression and violence
to clarify anew the self-i dentities, motivations, and goals of a broad swath
of terrorists. As conventional counter- terrorism approaches have so far
failed to stem the cycle of terrorism, this approach suggests a compre-
hensive “cultural” method to combating terrorism that addresses the
appeal of radical apocalyptic terrorist ideology itself.
This book will be of much interest to students of apocalypticism, polit-
ical violence, terrorism and counter-t errorism, intelligence studies, reli-
gious studies, and security studies.
Frances L. Flannery is Professor of Religion and Director of the Center for
the Interdisciplinary Study of Terrorism and Peace (CISTP), James
Madison University, USA, and author of Dreamers, Scribes and Priests: Jewish
Dreams in the Hellenistic and Roman Eras (2004) and co- editor (with Rodney
Werline) of Experientia, Volume One: Inquiry into Religious Experience in Early
Judaism and Early Christianity (2008).
Political Violence
Series Editor: David Rapoport
This book series contains sober, thoughtful, and authoritative academic
accounts of terrorism and political violence. Its aim is to produce a useful
taxonomy of terror and violence through comparative and historical ana-
lysis in both national and international spheres. Each book discusses
origins, organizational dynamics and outcomes of particular forms and
expressions of political violence.
Aviation Terrorism and Security Right- Wing Extremism in the
Edited by Paul Wilkinson and Twenty- First Century
Brian M. Jenkins Edited by Peter H. Merkl and
Leonard Weinberg
Counter- Terrorist Law and
Emergency Powers in the United Terrorism Today
Kingdom, 1922–2000 Christopher C. Harmon
Laura K. Donohue
The Psychology of Terrorism
John Horgan
The Democratic Experience and
Political Violence
Research on Terrorism
Edited by David C. Rapoport and
Trends, achievements and failures
Leonard Weinberg
Edited by Andrew Silke
Inside Terrorist Organizations A War of Words
Edited by David C. Rapoport Political violence and public debate
in Israel
The Future of Terrorism
Gerald Cromer
Edited by Max Taylor and John Horgan
Root Causes of Suicide Terrorism
The IRA, 1968–2000 The globalization of martyrdom
Analysis of a secret army Edited by Ami Pedahzur
J. Bowyer Bell
Terrorism versus Democracy
Millennial Violence The liberal state response, second
Past, present and future edition
Edited by Jeffrey Kaplan Paul Wilkinson
Countering Terrorism and WMD Unconventional Weapons and
Creating a global counter- terrorism International Terrorism
network Challenges and new approaches
Edited by Peter Katona, Edited by Magnus Ranstorp and
Michael D. Intriligator and Magnus Normark
John P. Sullivan
International Aviation and Terrorism
Mapping Terrorism Research Evolving threats, evolving security
State of the art, gaps and future John Harrison
direction
Edited by Magnus Ranstorp Walking Away from Terrorism
Accounts of disengagement from
The Ideological War on Terror
radical and extremist movements
Worldwide strategies for
John Horgan
counter- terrorism
Edited by Anne Aldis and
Understanding Violent
Graeme P. Herd
Radicalisation
Terrorist and jihadist movements
The IRA and Armed Struggle
in Europe
Rogelio Alonso
Edited by Magnus Ranstorp
Homeland Security in the UK
Future preparedness for terrorist Terrorist Groups and the New
attack since 9/11 Tribalism
Edited by Paul Wilkinson Terrorism’s fifth wave
Jeffrey Kaplan
Terrorism Today, Second Edition
Christopher C. Harmon Negotiating with Terrorists
Strategy, tactics, and politics
Understanding Terrorism and
Edited by Guy Olivier Faure and
Political Violence
I. William Zartman
The life cycle of birth, growth,
transformation, and demise
Explaining Terrorism
Dipak K. Gupta
Causes, processes and
consequences
Global Jihadism
Martha Crenshaw
Theory and practice
Jarret M. Brachman
The Psychology of
Combating Terrorism in Northern Counter- Terrorism
Ireland Edited by Andrew Silke
Edited by James Dingley
Terrorism and the Olympics
Leaving Terrorism Behind Major event security and lessons
Individual and collective for the future
disengagement Edited by Anthony Richards,
Edited by Tore Bjørgo and John Horgan Peter Fussey and Andrew Silke
Irish Republican Terrorism and Prisons, Terrorism and Extremism
Politics Critical issues in management,
A comparative study of the official radicalisation and reform
and the provisional IRA Edited by Andrew Silke
Kacper Rekawek
The Psychology of Terrorism,
Fault Lines in Global Jihad Second Edition
Organizational, strategic and John Horgan
ideological fissures
Edited by Assaf Moghadam and Victims of Terrorism
Brian Fishman A comparative and interdisciplinary
study
Militancy and Political Violence in Edited by Orla Lynch and
Shiism Javier Argomaniz
Trends and patterns
Edited by Assaf Moghadam Lone- Actor Terrorists
A behavioural analysis
Islamist Radicalisation in Europe Paul Gill
An occupational change process
Daniela Pisoiu Understanding Terrorism
Innovation and Learning
An International History of Al- Qaeda and beyond
Terrorism Edited by Magnus Ranstorp and
Western and non- Western Magnus Normark
experiences
Edited by Jussi Hanhimäki and Evolutionary Psychology and
Bernhard Blumenau Terrorism
Edited by Max Taylor, Jason Roach
Democracy and Terrorism and Ken Pease
Friend or foe?
Leonard Weinberg Understanding Apocalyptic
Terrorism
State Terrorism and Human Rights Countering the radical mindset
International responses since the Frances L. Flannery
end of the Cold War
Edited by Gillian Duncan, Orla Lynch,
Gilbert Ramsay and Alison Watson
Understanding Apocalyptic
Terrorism
Countering the radical mindset
Frances L. Flannery
First published 2016
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
and by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2016 Frances L. Flannery
The right of Frances L. Flannery to be identified as author of this
work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78
of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical,
or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
British Library Cataloguing- in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress Cataloging- in-Publication Data
Flannery, Frances.
Understanding apocalyptic terrorism: countering the radical
mindset / Frances L. Flannery.
pages cm. -- (Political violence)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Terrorism--Religious aspects. 2. Terrorism. 3. Political violence--
Religious aspects. I. Title.
BL65.T47F53 2016
363.325'17--dc23 2015010689
ISBN: 978-1-138-77954-9 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-77116-8 (ebk)
Typeset in Baskerville
by Wearset Ltd, Boldon, Tyne and Wear
For Harry, Sam, Lloyd, and Susie
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Contents
List of abbreviations xi
Acknowledgments xiii
Introduction 1
PART I
Roots of the apocalyptic worldview 15
1 The original Book of Revelation 17
2 By this sign you will conquer: transformations of the Book
of Revelation 34
PART II
The apocalyptic formula and terrorism 57
3 How not to make a terrorist: peaceful vs. radical
apocalypticism 59
4 “One who swims in the sea does not fear rain”: Al Qaeda and
Sunni radical apocalypticism 84
5 The case of the self- declared “Islamic State”: ISIS/ISIL 127
6 “The Lord God is a Man of War”: Christian Identity teaching
and radical apocalyptic terrorism 143
7 The humanpox versus green fire: eco- terrorists and
eco- activists 186
8 Bringing Armageddon: Aum Shinrikyo 214
Description:This book explores a cross-cultural worldview called 'radical apocalypticism' that underlies the majority of terrorist movements in the twenty-first century. Although not all apocalypticism is violent, in its extreme forms radical apocalypticism gives rise to terrorists as varied as members of Al Qa
