Dear All,

The Chronicle Review (In the wake of the attacks on the World Trade Center
and the Pentagon, The Chronicle asked scholars in a variety of disciplines
to reflect on those events. Their comments were submitted in writing or
transcribed from interviews.)

From the issue dated September 28, 2001

Understanding Terrorism By JOHN O. VOLL

The concept that there may be rationality in terrorism -- something beyond
simple, blinding hate -- is virtually inconceivable to many people.

Yet to understand terrorism, it is important to put it in a broader
context and to recognize that it has many sources. One, for example, is
widespread fear of the immense power of the United States. Around the
world, people know that the United States can focus virtually unimaginable
destructive power on any person or place. Among some, this fear becomes
hate, and terrorism is seen as the only effective response to overwhelming
American power. In this context, an American response to the terrible acts
of September 11 that would show that we could destroy a country like
Afghanistan would only confirm the convictions of those who hate the
United States.

Scholars and other experts who are asked to "explain" terrorism have a
difficult task. Most people want a simple answer, like, "These people are
blind adherents of an evil cult," or "These people are desperately
clinging to an ignorant past that is impossible to preserve." Those who
attempt to go beyond simplistic answers to understand the causes of
terrorism run the risk of being accused of being apologists or supporters
of the terrorists. However, the causes for which terrorists are willing to
die have great appeal to many people in the world. Trying to understand
and explain that appeal is not advocacy; it is the first step in a
long-term program for reducing terrorism in the world.

John O. Voll is a professor of Islamic history at Georgetown University.

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Sincerely
Arun Tripathi