Book Review: Fagin, J. A. (2006). When Terrorism Strikes Home: Defending the United States. Boston: Pearson Education. 322 pp

• Author: Laura Veronica Fontaine
• DOI: 10.1177/0734016807300503
• Published date: 01 June 2007
• Date: 01 June 2007
• Subject Matter: Articles

Book Reviews

Fagin, J. A. (2006). When Terrorism Strikes Home:

Defending the United States. Boston: Pearson Education. 322 pp.

DOI: 10.1177/0734016807300503

The past several years have brought a number of unforeseen developments to the world

stage, and with them have come major challenges for American national security and for-

eign policy. Dr. James A. Fagin, professor and dean of graduate studies and research at East

Stroudsburg University, presents a comprehensive assessment of the war on terrorism.

According to Fagin, this book

focuses on the impact the war on terrorism has on individuals, society, and government. It

examines how the war on terrorism has affected first responders like police and fire depart-

ments, how it transformed local and state government planning, and how it has defined a new

relationship between state and federal government. (p. ix)

The book is divided into four sections: introduction and history, U.S. response to terror-

ist threats on U.S. soil, primary priorities that the U.S. has focused on such as aviation,

weapons of mass destruction, and so forth, and a discussion of future threats and the impact

of the war on society and government. He states that despite the transformation in security

and antiterrorism preparations, U.S. citizens’ feelings of security and attitudes have been

changed. This book essentially offers the reader an understanding of the concept of terror-

ism and the antiterrorist measures that affect each and every one of us. Overall, it is argued

that terrorism is not a new threat but rather we are in a new era in which we have to defend

our homeland against terrorists. Americans need to comprehend the complexity of terror-

ism and the threats posed by terrorists, as well as the problems and issues that arise while

trying to protect our country.

Following the introduction, Fagin provides the reader with a brief history of terrorism

and the roots of the definition of terrorism. He correctly notes that “one man’s terrorist is

another man’s freedom fighter” (p. 21). Fagin states that it is difficult to determine the exact

origins of terrorism, but it can be seen through the writings of Xenophon, the ancient Greek

historian, that terrorist tactics were described and advocated as a way to combat enemy

populations. This chapter ensures that the reader is aware that terrorism is a value term,

creating the problem of defining it, and although the United States engages in a war on

terrorism, analysis of the past is necessary.

Chapter 3 examines how utilizing the rule of law has become the primary strategy in

defending the United States. Due to Fagin’s having taught criminal justice for more than

20 years, this chapter is full of detail and a wealth of knowledge on different acts, such as

the Alien Act and the Sedition Act. The latter part of the chapter delves into the controver-

sies and issues surrounding the Patriot Act. Fagin argues that “the balance between national

security and civil liberties is like a pendulum, swinging from one extreme to the other”

(p. 78). Therefore, U.S. citizens need to ask if they are willing to give up their civil liber-

ties during national security threats in order to help fight terrorism.

The fourth chapter explains why terrorists are filled with hate toward the United States.

Fagin explains that there is a plethora of data suggesting that terrorists are not crazy or

179

Criminal Justice Review

Volume 32 Number 2

June 2007 179-181

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