4.6
stars
107 ratings

David Schanzer

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Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today

Duke University

About this Course

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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

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Russian, English, Spanish

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.73/5 (32 Ratings)

David Schanzer

Associate Professor of the Practice

Sanford School of Public Policy

10,699 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

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.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating96%(1,098 ratings)

Week

Week 1

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.

1 hour to complete

3 videos (Total 36 min), 4 readings

Week

Week 2

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.

1 hour to complete

8 videos (Total 59 min), 1 reading

Week

Week 3

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.

2 hours to complete

13 videos (Total 96 min), 1 reading

13 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

1 reading

Week 3: Required Reading10m

Week

Week 4

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.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 87 min), 1 reading

Week

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Week 5: The Radicalization Process

This week we’ll examine how individuals become radicalized. We’ll see that there are multiple paths to radicalization where opportunity and chance play a significant role. Thus, radicalization is a complex process that defies simple explanation. We’ll conclude with a conversation with Peter Neumann, Professor of Security Studies at the Department of War Studies, King’s College London, and director of the International Centre for the Study of Radicalization.

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 70 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Week 6: Counterterrorism Before 9/11

This week we’ll examine the three main US political philosophies that underlie the country’s approach to counterterrorism. We’ll look at the beginnings of the US response to this growing threat and how US agencies involved in counterterrorism efforts have adapted over time. Finally, we’ll examine how the US attempted to combat Osama bin Laden’s growing threat to US security.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 83 min), 1 reading

Week

Week 7

3 hours to complete

Week 7: September 12, 2001

In this final week of the course we’ll speak with Juan Zarate , one of the key White House counter terrorism advisers in the second Bush administration, about US counterterrorism efforts since 9/11. We’ll look at the current state of threats to US interests from emerging actors, such as ISIS. Finally, we’ll look at the recent developments in the Middle East that affect US security.

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 111 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Reviews

4.6

39 reviews

5 stars
73.63%
4 stars
18.18%
3 stars
6.36%
2 stars
1.81%

TOP REVIEWS FROM UNDERSTANDING 9/11: WHY 9/11 HAPPENED & HOW TERRORISM AFFECTS OUR WORLD TODAY

by ATMar 22, 2022

WORDERFUL LEARNING . AMUST COURSE FOR DEFENCE PLANNING AND POLICY MAKING

by SBMar 24, 2018

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

by CSFeb 26, 2021

Very interesting course with a religious view of Terrorist Attacks. Learned a lot!

by DDJun 14, 2021

It is a good course to learn more about terrorism but largely from US perspective and the role of various American agencies. Also, I think the policy memo exercise is not very useful.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
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.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
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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Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today

Understanding 9/11: Why 9/11 Happened & How Terrorism Affects Our World Today

About this Course