Dennis Pluchinsky collection on terrorism and counterterrorism

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Slides are unavailable for research pending reformatting.

Slides are unavailable for research pending reformatting.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. Staff have taken special care to identify and remove classified and privacy protected information (PPI) found within this collection. However, in rare instances, PPI may be revealed during use of this collection. Researchers agree to make no notes or other recordation of PPI if found within this collection, and further agree not to publish or disclose such information for any purpose. Researchers agree to alert Special Collections staff if potentially privacy protected information is found within this collection. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Dennis Pluchinsky Collection on Terrorism and Counterterrorism, 1956-2016, SC XXXX, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
xx cubic feet approximately 29 boxes, 1 flat file
Creator:
Pluchinsky, Dennis A. and Pluchinsky, Dennis A.
Abstract:
The collection comprises communiqués, unclassified government documents, serial publications, news articles, photographs, printed and three-dimensional ephemera, and the donor's scholarship related to global terrorism and counterterrorism. The materials in this collection were created and collected by Dennis Pluchinsky over the course of the career as a senior intelligence analyst and professor.
Language:
English , German , French , Spanish; Castilian , Greek, Modern (1453-) , Arabic , Italian , Armenian .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Dennis Pluchinsky Collection on Terrorism and Counterterrorism, 1956-2016, SC XXXX, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises communiqués, unclassified government documents, serial publications, news articles, photographs, printed and three-dimensional ephemera, and the donor's scholarship related to global terrorism and counterterrorism. The materials in this collection were created and collected by Dennis Pluchinsky over the course of the career as a senior intelligence analyst and university instructor.

The bulk of the collection, including Pluchinsky's teaching and scholarly work, documents the activities, ideological agendas, and belief systems of specific extremist groups, particularly European communist organizations, but also groups active in Asia, North America, South America, Africa, and the Middle East. Eco-terrorist groups are also included.

The series documents the activities and beliefs of specific extremist, separatist, resistance, and terrorist organizations. Materials include communiqués in which groups issued statements to the media, specifically to take credit for terror attacks; interviews with former and current group members; trainings and internal communcations; newsletters and publications; and indictments and court documents. Photographs and schematic diagrams of terror attacks are included. Examples of terror attacks documented include assassinations and attempted assassinations, kidnappings, plane hijackings, bombings, and suicide attacks. Specific terrorist attacks documented in these materials include September 11 (2001); the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland (1988); the Munich Massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics; the assassination attempt of President George H. W. Bush by Iraqi Intelligence Service in Kuwait (1993); and many others too numerous to list.

There are organizations in this series that have similar goals, aims, and belief systems. In some cases, groups spawned from or merged into other groups, were renamed over time, issued joint statements, or issued statements in support of another group's activities. As a result, researchers may want to consult materials from organizations with aligning political or social agendas.

Materials not specific to individual organizations include chronologies, glossaries, and indices as well as general information on tactics and ideologies.

Bowman Miller's Language Study

Includes Al-Qaeda translated documents that were found in Al-Qaeda residences and training camps in late 2001 and early 2002.

Eduard Shevardnadze assassination attempts in 1995 and 1998.

South Moluccan terrorist hostage seizure in the Netherlands, May 1977.

President George H. W. Bush assassination attempt by Iraqi Intelligence Service in Kuwait.

Terrorist attack during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany.

Label on spine of binder: "FRG Look-Out Book"

Donor created label on front of binder: "West German Bundeskriminalamt (German Federal Police) or 'BKA' Lookout Book on German left-wing terrorists. Dated - early 1980s/late 1970s"

The series includes printed and three-dimensional ephemera, objects, propaganda, maps, reward and wanted posters, clothing items, counterterrorism calendars, and newspapers. The newspapers are primarily complete issues and are significant in that their front page headlines document major acts of political violence, terrorism, or the capture of terrorist leaders. Pro and anti-terrorist sentiments are expressed on the ephemera.

Yugoslavia, former Soviet Union, Middle East, Eastern Europe

Includes flag of Hezbollah and Hassan Nasrallah imagery.

White t-shirt with black graphic.

White t-shirt with black graphic and colors of Irish flag.

White t-shirt with terrorist organization logos on the back.

Black t-shirt.

White t-shirt.

White t-shirt.

Maroon t-shirt. Made by Sirtaj Hosiery in Peshawar, Pakistan.

The series includes materials related to Dennis Pluchinsky's teaching, research, and scholarship. Many of the titled papers dated from 2007 to 2015 are research papers and commentaries presented by Pluchinsky at the National Intelligence Council's (NIC) Intelligence Community Associates Program.

Presented at the 9/11 Anniversary Conference in Arlington, Virginia.

Biographical / historical:

Dennis A. Pluchinsky is a graduate of Madison College ('73) and George Washington University ('78) who spent the bulk of his career as a senior intelligence analysist. From 1977 to 2005, Pluchinsky worked in the Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis, Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State.

Starting in 1990, he taught undergraduate and graduate courses at several colleges and universities including George Washington University, George Mason University, Georgetown University, and James Madison University. His courses focused on terrorism, counterterrorism, ethnic conflict, and al-Qaeda and the global jihad movement.

In addition to writing multiple book chapters and articles, Pluchinsky co-wrote Europe's Red Terrorists: The Fighting Communist Organizations, co-edited European Terrorism: Today & Tomorrow, and wrote two volumes of Anti-American Terrorism: From Eisenhower to Trump — A Chronicle of the Threat and Response.

Due to the large and complex scope of organizations represented in this collection, neither a historical note on global terrorism generally nor information on specific groups is provided here. Researchers should consult collection materials or outside sources for historical information on specific organziations documented in this collection.

Acquisition information:
Donated to Special Collections in multiple accretions between 2015 and 2016.
Appraisal information:

Only select publications, printed materials, and other mass produced materials were retained. All media (VHS, DVD) were not retained.

A representative sample of objects and ephemera was retained.

Processing information:

Post-it notes and envelopes containing donor-supplied descriptive information were photocopied and foldered with the related papers and photographs. The contents of a USB drive, comprising 16 Word documents and one PowerPoint presentation, was printed and filed rather than retained digitally.

Contents of binder were removed and foldered. Labels were copied and filed in folder.

All matches have been burned out.

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged into three series:

  1. Extremist, separatist, and resistance organizations and movements, 1956-2014
  2. Teaching and scholarship
  3. Ephemera and objects
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard