Study Questions for Pape

The essay question asks you to use Robert Pape's Book Dying to Win as a source for facts and as an argument you should respond to. Here are some study questions I have scribbled for the book. They are not meant to be essay questions only something to think about as you read:

Writing 2 Fitzmaurice Dying To Win, by Robert Pape
study questions Not all of these questions have answers. They’re just useful for keeping the various ideas and dilemmas in mind.

Why do we need to understand the true nature of suicide terrorism? Why does Pape think so? Find a quote that says this. And why do you think we do or do not need to study the real forces and motives behind this activity?

Why do these terrorists target democracies? What is an occupation?
What is Al Qaeda? Hezbollah? Hamas? LTTE? Zealots? Sicarii? Kamikazes?
What is Sunni, Shia, Salafi, Wahhabi, Sinhahese, Tamil, Sikh?
What conditions do you think created the surge in suicide bombings in various countries, including Lebanon, Sri Lanka, and Iraq? What is the effect of the Marine Barracks 1983?
What is nationalism? What is martyrdom? If the religion and culture forbid suicide, how can these acts be acceptable to the community?

How can Pape say that the motive of the terrorist is not religious but is shaped by religious differences? See especially his discussion of Al Qaeda and Bin Laden’s comments on religion on Page 120. And his use of the Crusader analogy seems to be significant as well.

Bin Laden believes America is materialistic and not a religious threat at all. And he sees us as cowards (123) do you think Bin Laden is helped or hurt by his use of insults?

Bin Laden notes the weakness of U.S. power is in public opinion. Can the U.S. remove troops without being seen as dishonorable by the rest of the world? Is our personal reputation at risk? Is the danger of withdrawal really a question of protecting people and our interests in the region? Can we leave Saudi Arabia and the other Arab states and expect to see a change in suicide terrorism against the U.S.? Or is Pape suggesting simple defeat?

What are the demographic characteristics of suicide bombers as studied by Pape?

What are the motives for suicide bombers—do they choose or are they forced? What is the value or the rationale of the martyr testimonials?

We will discuss Part 3 on “Individual Logic …” In the film “Paradise Now” do you see agreement with Pape or elements that contradict his explanation? How about in The Attack by Jasmina Khadra?

In Pape, “12: A New Strategy for Victory” (237-250) he makes suggestions about what we can do to change the war “on terror” to a war “on the campaigns against the U.S.” –To quit fighting a vague notion and to fight what threatens us. What does he suggest?

Obama administration has decided not to use the term war on Terror anymore. Can you see why this is a positive move? Is it for the same reasons necessarily that Pape suggests?