UH Honors College Hosting Terrorism Expert Chris Harmon

Conversations Scheduled Nov. 1, 2 in UH M.D. Anderson Library

Terrorism continues to impact populations around the world.  Acts of violence motivated by political or spiritual views leave physical and emotional scars on victims, their families and the global psyche. Likewise, they shape domestic and international political landscapes.

On Nov. 1 and 2, terrorism expert Chris Harmon will address the topic during two conversations at the University of Houston’s Honors College (inside the university’s M.D. Anderson Library). Both talks are free and open to the community. To RSVP or for additional details, visit the event’s website.

Harmon is the author of “Terrorism Today.” He has taught courses on terrorism, counterterrorism, and strategy and policy at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C., and the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany. He holds the Matthew C. Horner Chair of Military Theory at Marine Corps University, where he has taught for more than two decades.

At UH, Harmon will host the following two events:

  • How Terrorist Groups End – 5 p.m., Nov. 1 in the Honors College Commons (second floor of the M.D. Anderson Library) Hundreds of terrorist organizations have faded just as quickly as they have risen. Harmon will explore five common reasons that contributed to the dissolution of terrorist groups. He also will discuss Al Qaeda and its parallels with 19th century anarchism (a movement that disappeared by the 1920s). Harmon regularly lectures on this topic and contributed a chapter on it for a book he co-edited, “Toward a Grand Strategy Against Terrorism.”
  • A Conversation: The Ideas Behind Terrorism – 2 p.m., Nov. 2 in room 212L of the M.D. Anderson Library Harmon will focus on the ideas that perpetuate acts of terror. In his book, “Terrorism Today,” he addresses the leaders of extremist movements and how they have engaged their followers through their talents as thinkers, communicators and persuaders. During his talk, Harmon will address the ideological underpinnings of contemporary terrorist groups and share thoughts on nationalism, neo-fascism, communism, anarchism and religion. After sharing his thoughts on the topic, he will take questions from the audience and lead a general discussion.

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