This Librarian Specializes in Terrorism and Extremism
A librarian who writes and teaches about terrorism and extremism may seem like an anomaly, especially at Texas A&M University. Dr. Stephen Atkins, curator for French collections at the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, has been researching and writing about terrorism for almost 20 years.
(Media-Newswire.com) - A librarian who writes and teaches about terrorism and extremism may seem like an anomaly, especially at Texas A&M University. Dr. Stephen Atkins, curator for French collections at the Cushing Memorial Library and Archives, has been researching and writing about terrorism for almost 20 years.
He views his work as a service to his fellow Americans and a “wake up call” for students who enroll in his class on terrorism and extremism. His most recent work is the two-volume, Encyclopedia of 9/11 published by Praeger International Security.
“As a librarian, my job is to disseminate accurate information. Consequently, I find no incompatibility between my role as a librarian and as a scholar on extremism and terrorism,” Atkins says.
Armed with a doctorate in French history and a master’s degree in library science, he convinced a reluctant editor to publish his book on terrorism in 1992. According to Atkins, the editor believed that terrorism was passé until the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993. Atkins’ book, Terrorism: A Reference Handbook, sold out.
From Vietnam to academia
For Atkins, terrorism is more than a matter of academics. In 1967 he served a 10-month tour of duty in South Vietnam with Company C, 6th Battalion, 31st Infantry and then with the 19th Military History Detachment in the 9th Infantry Division.
Acting as point man, demolition specialist and sniper, he engaged in seven firefights in the Mekong Delta within three days. His military experience whetted his interest in warfare and honed his skills as a writer and researcher.
“Living in a wartime period stimulated my later interest in research on guerrilla insurgencies, terrorism and extremism,” Atkins says.
After Vietnam, life settled down a bit, and he resumed his studies at the University of Iowa, where he completed his doctorate and later a master’s degree in library science. He then took a position as political science subject specialist in the library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His published works on arms control, disarmament and international security led to an interest in the related field of terrorism.
When Atkins arrived at Texas A&M in 1989 to become head of collection development, the Berlin Wall was about to come crashing down and terrorist attacks were looming on the horizon. Atkins set about the business of building and managing collections while keeping an eye on terrorism and extremism domestically and abroad.
Going below the tip of the iceberg
“I had become frustrated with research on terrorism because it was easy to find information on terrorist acts and terrorist leaders but not on the motivation of terrorists, My interest turned to extremism, which may or may not lead to terrorism,” he explained.
“The tip of the iceberg is terrorism and the bottom is extremism.”
Atkins’ Encyclopedia of Modern American Extremists and Extremist Groups was published in 2002. Two years later, his Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the top reference works for 2004.
Atkins continued researching and publishing even after being named associate dean. A reference book on energy, A Historical Encyclopedia of Atomic Energy, received the Booklist Editor’s Choice Award for 2000. He ferreted out material from various primary and secondary sources and found that journalists who wrote articles and books on specific subjects were especially valuable resources.
The attacks of 9/11 yielded a massive amount of material, from studies on the hijackers to eyewitness accounts. “Instead of having too little material, I experienced information overload,” Atkins says.
The 9/11 Encyclopedia, a two-volume work released in June, details events leading to 9/11, including the identification of all participants worldwide. Considered an essential resource for scholars and security specialists, it contains more than 40 primary documents and 586 pages on the darkest hour in recent American history.
The changing nature of terrorism
Atkins says terrorist groups have changed over time. In the 1960s, they had a political agenda such as the liberation of a particular state. They depended on publicity as part of their strategy and they frequently had state sponsors. Opportunistic leaders today may commission a terrorist act to advance their cause, he says, adding that today’s groups favor suicide bombings in highly populated places, as media coverage indicates.
Atkins is already working on his next volumes: a book on the Holocaust denial as an international movement that will appear in 2009, followed by a trilogy on American extremism.
Related Content
Release Date
This story was released on 2008-10-01. Please make sure to visit the official company or organization web site to learn more about the original release date. See our disclaimer for additional information.