Course Information

About this course

This course is a study of terrorism – its causes and aims as well as its forms – and of counter-terrorism measures introduced by the international community and individual states. The course examines the implications of terrorism for international politics in the 21st century. Adopting a European perspective, and with the Irish Republican Army (IRA) as a key case study, we will study the history, concept, and phenomenon of terrorism and the varied attempts to fight it

Terrorism and counter-terrorism have been on everyone’s mind since 9/11. However, terrorism didn’t just appear out of the blue on that horrifying September day. Unfortunately, several European countries have a very long history of dealing with not only well known actors like IS and Al-Qaeda, but also with long established terrorist groups, e.g. Northern Ireland (IRA), Spain (ETA), Italy (Red Brigades) and Germany (Red Army Faction) as well as individual right-wing terrorism (Norway). This perspective will allow us to better understand what terrorism is, why terrorism occurs, how terrorists organize and operate, and what some of the consequences are of reacting in different ways to terrorism.

Syllabus

Spring 2026

This is the most recent syllabus for this course

Go to syllabus

Travel on Study Tour

You only take one Core Course per semester, and each Core Course includes two Study Tours: one Short Study Tour to a nearby destination for three days, and one Long Study Tour to another European country for six days.

Led by your faculty, Study Tours take you into real-world settings where you will apply what you’ve learned outside the classroom.

Check out the Study Tours for this course
Students sitting on the floor in a modern building, engaging in a group activity with papers and notebooks scattered around.

Faculty

Martin Cleemann Rasmussen

MA (Russian and History, University of Copenhagen 2004, graduated on Civil-Military relations in Russia, 1993-99). Associate professor at the Royal Danish Officer Academy (2011- ), Senior Advisor NordGEN at the Nordic Council of Ministers 2005-2009 on Russia and the CIS, Associate Professor Nordic Council of Ministers Petrazavodsk State University 1998, Exchange Student, Odessa (Ukraine), and St. Petersburg (1996-1997). Various positions as translator and leads many visits to Russia as well as several battlefield tours. Analyst on Russian matters in Danish news media. With DIS since 2015.

Long Study Tour

About this tour

The Study Tour aims to analyze and better understand the concept and phenomenon of terrorism. You will gain insight into various forms of terrorism.

We will look at the state terrorism and political violence in Belfast (Northern Ireland), in particular, the conflict between Republicans (usually Catholic), and Loyalists (usually Protestant). Peace was achieved in the mid-nineties, but the signs of conflict are still visible in the city. The tension is still in the air and the memories are still fresh for many on both sides of the conflict, that raged on for thirty years, with periods of terrorism and violence.

We will also look at Dublin in neighboring Ireland – the place where the conflict had its roots, the country that since 1973 has been a member of the EU, but nevertheless at the same time in numerous ways has been involved in the conflict raging just across the border. Going from an economic wonder child into deep recession, getting into gear again, but now faced with the complications of Brexit and its implications for the UK-Irish border, Ireland presents one of the most interesting insights into the complications of politics, ethnicity, religion, modernity, and conflict handling. At the same time, Ireland has some of the most spectacular and beautiful landscapes of Europe.

Learning outcomes

  • Understand the complexity of the concept and phenomenon of terrorism
  • Analyze different terrorist organizations and terrorist attacks (causes, aims, forms)
  • Provide access to relevant organizations, officials, researchers, and private individuals to learn more about terrorism and counter-terrorism in both Northern Ireland and Ireland
  • To explore the relationships between governments and other stakeholders in combating terrorism
  • Gain insight into the drivers for “the other side” – the terrorist
  • Experience and observe the life, culture, and political environment of Northern Ireland and Ireland

Possible activities

  • Visit locations where the conflicts and terror attacks took place
  • Meeting with former activists and prisoners, who are now reflecting on their past
  • Couinterinsurgency then and now – reflections by some of those who are still doing it today
  • Using the beautiful terrain and landscape of Ireland for analysis of the rural guerilla – limitations and possibilities for both the insurgent and for counterinsurgency

Dublin, Ireland

Short Study Tour

About this tour

According to police and intelligence agencies, as many as 100 Danes may be fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq. Denmark, which has produced more fighters per head of population since 2012 than any other western European country except Belgium, has been at the forefront of exploring new models for preventing extremism. According to ICSR 2015’s Report, 27 per 1 million Danish citizens have gone to fight in Iraq and Syria. As growing numbers of young Muslims travel from Scandinavian countries to join jihadi groups abroad, the debate on how to counter radicalization is becoming more urgent.

On this Study Tour, we explore the question of why Denmark has produced such a high percentage of Jihadist fighters and what initiatives are in place in Aarhus to prevent this development.

While on tour, we focus on the prevention of radicalization and extremism among youngsters. We also focus on the depiction of ethnic minorities in media and the consequences for these same minorities in their everyday lives.

As part of our work, we meet with key decision makers in the anti-radicalization efforts as well as sharp end counter-terrorism representatives.

Learning outcomes

  • Put terrorism and counter-terrorism into a Danish perspective through the use of both history and the present day urban environment
  • Eplore the concept of radicalization and extremism, leading potentially to terrorism, in Denmark
  • Get insights to elements of integration and non-integration – understand how it works and the limitations
  • Provide access to researchers, military, municipality employees, and others engaged in the wide field of anti-radicalization work and sharp end counter-terrorism
  • Explore the relationships between the authorities and youngsters that are potentially at risk of being radicalized

Possible activities

  • Meet with a faculty member at Aarhus University that specializes in right-wing extremism and radicalization in Denmark
  • Hear from key representatives of the media and discuss the media’s influence on depictions of terrorism and radicalization
  • Visit Grimhøjvej Mosque; representatives of the Danish Security Forces; and Bazaar Vest, a commercial small entrepreneur integration project in Aarhus