While much has been said about the global war on terror, the concept remains cunningly elusive and yet undeniably pervasive. This collection of essays is an effort to discover the Canadian "self" through exploration of the terrorist "other." Understanding Terror:Perspectives for Canadians as a collection, views the war on terror from unique eyes. It defines the boundaries of terror, examines its construction in the media, and explores its relationship to the Muslim "other."

Understanding Terror: Perspectives for Canadians takes a historical approach to consideration of terror through specific examples and its presence in the media, in North American society, and particularly in Canada. Contributors to the volume include journalists, scholars, and public policy experts, many of whom have viewed or experienced terror first-hand. Their aim is to examine specific events, reflect on how those events might be interpreted, and provide historical context, all the while encouraging the reader to question preconceived characterizations of this highly charged political and cultural issue.

The book includes essays by Gwynne Dyer, Major Brent Beardsley, Stuart Farson, Doug Firby, Ronald Glasberg, James P. Lassoie, George Melnyk, and Reg Whitaker.

Dr. Karim-Aly S. Kassam believes that the so-called ”war on terror“ has hijacked international focus from more substantive issues such as conservation of the biological and cultural diversity that are essential to human survival. In trying to understand terror, Dr. Kassam and the contributors to this work seek to broaden public discourse on the perception of terror. Among his many publications, Dr. Kassam has co-edited Canada and September 11: Impact and Response (2002). Dr. Kassam currently holds the post of International Associate Professor of Environmental and Indigenous Studies at Cornell University.

Karim-Aly S. Kassam's profile page