About this Course
4.4
14 ratings
•
5 reviews
This course will explore the forces that led to the 9/11 attacks and the policies the United States adopted in response. We will examine the phenomenon of modern terrorism, the development of the al Qai'da ideology, and the process by which individuals radicalize towards violence....
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Beginner Level

Beginner Level

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Suggested: 3 hours/week

Approx. 18 hours to complete
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English

Subtitles: English
Globe

100% online courses

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.
Calendar

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level

Beginner Level

Clock

Suggested: 3 hours/week

Approx. 18 hours to complete
Comment Dots

English

Subtitles: English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section
Clock
1 hour to complete

Week 1: Course Overview and the 9/11 Attacks

In this course, we will examine why al Qai-da attacked America. We will also examine the phenomenon of terrorism, in general, and the radical ideology developed and propagated by Osama bin Laden through al Qaida, more specifically. We will consider why individuals are attracted to this ideology and how they radicalize to violence. We will also explore how the United States addressed terrorism prior to 9/11 and the policy changes the US (and its allies around the globe) faced in the immediate aftermath of the attacks....
Reading
3 videos (Total 36 min), 4 readings
Video3 videos
David Schanzer Biography14m
Understanding 9/113m
What Happened Here18m
Reading4 readings
Course Overview10m
Assessments and Grading10m
Discussion Forums10m
Week 1: Required Reading10m

2

Section
Clock
1 hour to complete

Week 2: What is Terrorism?

Our topic for this week is, what is terrorism. We will try to define terrorism and understand the actions that we're going to be studying in this course, 9/11 and its aftermath. We will examine one of the key debates in this area; can terrorism be executed by a state, or is it only the use of political violence by a non-state actor. You will also learn how to write a policy memo....
Reading
8 videos (Total 59 min), 1 reading
Video8 videos
State vs. Non-State Actors9m
War vs. Crime17m
Online Resource Search - Catherine Shreve4m
How to Write a Policy Memo - Overview10m
How to Write a Policy Memo - Heading and Background7m
How to Write a Policy Memo - Analysis and Summary5m
How to Write a Policy Memo - Revision2m
How to Write a Policy Memo - Proofread2m
Reading1 reading
Week 2: Required Reading10m

3

Section
Clock
2 hours to complete

Week 3: A Primer on Islam

This week we have a special treat: we will have an extensive conversation with Imam Abdullah Antepli, the Islamic Chaplin here at Duke. We’ll cover a wide range of topics, including Islamic history, law, the role of women and the Muslim experience in the post – 9/11 world....
Reading
13 videos (Total 96 min), 1 reading
Video13 videos
Beginnings of Islam7m
Early Muslim Civilization9m
What Muslims Believe8m
The Core Practices of Islam6m
What is Shariah Law11m
Shariah and the Rule of Law5m
What is Jihad'?6m
The Sword Verses7m
Osama bin Laden’s Use of Religion4m
Women in Islam8m
Women, Islam, & Culture5m
The Muslim-American Experience Post 9/11- Part 18m
The Muslim-American Experience Post 9/11 - Part 25m
Reading1 reading
Week 3: Required Reading10m

4

Section
Clock
2 hours to complete

Week 4: The al Qai'da Ideology

Our topic for this week is the al Qaeda ideology. An ideology is essentially the set of beliefs that an individual, a group, or an organization has to either motivate them or to give that organization purpose. For al Qaeda, of course this is incredibly important because they're trying to motivate individuals to sacrifice their lives for what they view as a great cause....
Reading
9 videos (Total 87 min), 1 reading
Video9 videos
An Ideology of Grievance17m
Biography of Sayyid Qutb10m
Qutb’s Milestones and a Muslim Revival8m
Qutb and Jihad8m
Roots of al Qaeda14m
Osama Bin Laden’s Ideology12m
Terminology: What Is Islamism?7m
Elements of the al Qai’da Ideology4m
Flaws in the al Qai’da Ideology4m
Reading1 reading
Week 4: Required Reading10m
4.4

Top Reviews

By SB•Mar 25th 2018

Outstanding course and content; the interviews really enriched my learning.

Instructor

David Schanzer

Associate Professor of the Practice
Sanford School of Public Policy

About Duke University

Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world....

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.

  • When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

  • No. Completion of a Coursera course does not earn you academic credit from Duke; therefore, Duke is not able to provide you with a university transcript. However, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

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