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Learn about the economics of terrorism during a Dec. 16 brown bag & webcast.

Come hear UC San Diego professor Eli Berman discuss his recent book, “Radical, Religious, and Violent: The New Economics of Terrorism,” on Thursday, Dec. 16, from noon-1 p.m. in Franklin Building, Room 5320. The session is sponsored by the Office of Research and Graduate Studies (ORGS) as part of its research lecture series.

The lecture, which will also be webcast live at www.ustream.tv/ucevents, will explore the economics of terrorism. (A recording will be available at www.ustream.tv/ucevents after the event.)

In his recent book, UC San Diego Professor of Economics Eli Berman dispels the myths that radical religious terrorists are not generally motivated by the promise of an afterlife or even by religious ideas in general. He argues that terrorists are best understood as rational altruists seeking to help their own communities.

Hezbollah, Hamas, Lashkar-e-Taiba and the Taliban all began as religious groups dedicated to piety and charity. Yet once they turned to violence, they executed campaigns of terrorism deadlier than those of their secular rivals, said Berman. Taking an economist’s approach, Berman asks, “What’s special about these organizations, and why are most of their followers religious radicals?”

Come meet Professor Berman, hear the latest in his research and ask questions about what’s happening in Iraq and Afghanistan.

About Eli Berman

Eli Berman is a Professor of Economics at UC San Diego, and a research director at the UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Read more about Eli Berman.

Visit the UCOP E-Calendar to find out more about this event and other upcoming events and trainings for OP staff.


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