About
Ami Pedahzur is a Professor at the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences at the University of Haifa and Director of the Chaikin Institue for Geo-Strategy. Until 2023, he served as the Ralph W. Yarborough Centennial Professor of Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Austin. Over the last decade and a half, Professor Pedahzur has pursued an active research agenda focused on radicalism, terrorism, security studies, and political networks in the Middle East in general and Israel in particular.
Publications
- David C. Rapoport (1929–2024): A Scholar’s Covenant, Pedahzur, A., 2026, In: Terrorism and Political Violence. 38, 2, p. 227-228 2 p.
- Territorial Control and the Militarization of Violent Non-State Actors: Transformation, Opportunities, and Vulnerabilities, Dayan, O. & Pedahzur, A., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Studies in Conflict and Terrorism.
- זריחתה של השקיעה, פדהצור, ע., 2023, In: תלם. 9, p. 56-64 9 p.
- The Munich massacre and the proliferation of counterterrorism special operation forces, Berger Hobson, R. & Pedahzur, A., 2022, In: Israel Affairs. 28, 4, p. 625-637 13 p.
- Can We Do Better? Replication and Online Appendices in Political Science, Grossman, J. & Pedahzur, A., Sep 2021, In: Perspectives on Politics. 19, 3, p. 906-911 6 p.
- Political Science and Big Data: Structured Data, Unstructured Data, and How to Use Them, Grossman, J. & Pedahzur, A., 1 Jun 2020, In: Political Science Quarterly. 135, 2, p. 225-257 33 p.
- Israel: Can terrorism be curbed?, Pedahzur, A., Gutierrez, L. & Perliger, A., 27 Apr 2018, Routledge Handbook of Terrorism and Counterterrorism. Taylor and Francis, p. 574-584 11 p.
- The radical right in Israel, Perliger, A. & Pedahzur, A., 5 Feb 2018, The Oxford Handbook of the Radical Right. Oxford University Press, p. 667-680 14 p.
- The territories in Israeli politics, Perliger, A. & Pedahzur, A., 1 Jan 2018, The Oxford Handbook of Israeli Politics and Society. Oxford University Press, p. 533-548 16 p.
- Who’s defending democracy? the battle among the elites over the elections to the 16th knesset, Pedahzur, A., 1 Jan 2018, The Elections in Israel 2003. Taylor and Francis, p. 85-100 16 p.
- Evolution of Suicide Attacks, Pedahzur, A. & Martin, S., 13 Jan 2017, The Handbook of the Criminology of Terrorism. wiley, p. 339-352 14 p.
- POLICY CHANGE INCH BY INCH: POLICY ENTREPRENEURS IN THE HOLY BASIN OF JERUSALEM, Shpaizman, I., Swed, O. & Pedahzur, A., 1 Dec 2016, In: Public Administration. 94, 4, p. 1042-1058 17 p.
- Modern European democracy and its enemies: The threat of the extreme right, Pedahzur, A. & Weinberg, L., 1 Jan 2016, The Populist Radical Right: A Reader. Taylor and Francis, p. 172-185 14 p.
- StruggIing with the Challenges of Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism within Democratic Boundaries: A Comparative Analysis, Pedahzur, A., 1 Jan 2015, Terrorism and Beyond: a 21st Century Perspective. Taylor and Francis, p. 339-359 21 p.
- משפל לפסגה: [מאמר ביקורת], פדהצור, ע., 2014, In: מערכות. 458, p. 72-73 2 p.
- Counter cultures, group dynamics and religious terrorism, Perliger, A. & Pedahzur, A., 2014, In: Political Studies. 64, 2, p. 297-314 18 p.
- Comment on "religious violence in Judaism: Past and present" by Gideon Aran and Ron E. Hassner, Pedahzur, A. & Perliger, A., Jul 2013, In: Terrorism and Political Violence. 25, 3, p. 413-415 3 p.
- A response to townes, Perliger, A. & Pedahzur, A., 2011, In: PS - Political Science and Politics. 2, p. 238-239 2 p.
- Two of a kind? Voting motivations for populist radical right and religious fundamentalist parties, Hirsch-Hoefler, S., Canetti, D. & Pedahzur, A., Dec 2010, In: Electoral Studies. 29, 4, p. 678-690 13 p.
- The fourth wave: Comparison of jewish and other manifestations of religious terrorism, Pedahzur, A. & Perliger, A., 1 Dec 2010, Terrorism, Identity and Legitimacy: The Four Waves Theory and Political Violence. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 103-111 9 p.
- Suicide Terrorism, Weinberg, L. & Pedahzur, A., Apr 2010, In: Religion Compass. 4, 4, p. 234-244 11 p.
- The consequences of counterterrorist policies in Israel, Pedahzur, A. & Perliger, A., 2010, The Consequences of Counterterrorism. Russell Sage Foundation, p. 335-366 32 p.
- איומים קיומיים על דמוקרטיות, פדהצור, ע., פרליגר, א. & זיידיס, ע., 2010, In: פוליטיקה: כתב-עת למדע המדינה וליחסים בינלאומיים. 20, p. 39-54 16 p.
- Policing terrorism in Israel, Perliger, A., Hasisi, B. & Pedahzur, A., 2009, In: Criminal Justice and Behavior. 36, 12, p. 1279-1304 26 p.
- Political parties and terrorist groups, Weinberg, L., Pedahzur, A. & Perliger, A., 4 Nov 2008, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 184 p.
- COPING WITH TERRORISM: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY, Pedahzur, A. & Perliger, A., 1 Jan 2007, Strategic and Tactical Considerations. Bloomsbury Publishing Plc., Vol. 1. p. V1-465-V1-486
- Coping with suicide attacks: Lessons from Israel, Perliger, A. & Pedahzur, A., Nov 2006, In: Public Money and Management. 26, 5, p. 281-286 6 p.
- Root causes of suicide terrorism: The globalization of martyrdom, Pedahzur, A., 22 Jun 2006, Routledge Taylor & Francis Group. 202 p.
- כיצד מושפעת פעילותה של קבוצת אינטרס ממערכת היחסים שלה עם הממשל: המקרה של ועד יישובי הגולן, פרליגר, א. & פדהצור, ע., 2005, הגולן - אדם ונוף (קובץ). הוצאת רמות - אוניברסיטת תל אביב, p. 163-173 11 p.
- Toward an analytical model of suicide terrorism - A comment, Pedahzur, A., Dec 2004, In: Terrorism and Political Violence. 16, 4, p. 841-844 4 p.
- The challenges of conceptualizing terrorism, Weinberg, L., Pedahzur, A. & Hirsch-Hoefler, S., Dec 2004, In: Terrorism and Political Violence. 16, 4, p. 777-794 18 p.
- An alternative approach for defining the boundaries of 'party families': Examples from the Israeli extreme right-wing party scene, Pedahzur, A. & Perliger, A., Jul 2004, In: Australian Journal of Political Science. 39, 2, p. 285-305 21 p.
- הפרדוקס המובנה של החינוך לאזרחות בישראל, פדהצור, ע. & פרליגר, א., 2004, In: מגמות: רבעון למדעי ההתנהגות. 43, 1, p. 64-83 20 p.
- האתגר של מפלגות קיצוניות למשטרים דמוקרטיים: ישראל כדוגמה, פדהצור, ע. & פרליגר, א., 2004, In: תרבות דמוקרטית. 8, p. 73-108 36 p.
- The defending democracy and the extreme right: A comparative analysis, Pedahzur, A., 19 Nov 2003, Western Democracies and the New Extreme Right Challenge. Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, p. 108-132 25 p.
- Altruism and fatalism: The characteristics of palestinian suicide terrorists, Pedahzur, A., Perliger, A. & Weinberg, L., Jul 2003, In: Deviant Behavior. 24, 4, p. 405-423 19 p.
- The potential role of "pro-democratic civil society' in responding to extreme right-wing challenges: The case of Brandenburg, Pedahzur, A., Mar 2003, In: Contemporary Politics. 9, 1, p. 63-74 12 p.
- The War on Terrorism and the Decline of Terrorist Group Formation: A Research Note, Pedahzur, A., Eubank, W. & Weinberg, L., 2002, In: Terrorism and Political Violence. 14, 3, p. 141-147 7 p.
- בטחון פנים במדינה דמוקרטית - הצגת ניתוח סקר, פדהצור, ע., חוסיסי, ב. & זיידיס, ע., 2002, In: עיונים בביטחון לאומי. 3, p. 99-111 13 p.
- בין "דמוקרטיה מתגוננת" ל"דמוקרטיה מתחסנת" - ישראל במבחן, פדהצור, ע., 2002, In: תרבות דמוקרטית. 6, p. 135-164 30 p.
- Democracy without environmental parties: The Israeli experience, Pedahzur, A. & Yishai, Y., Sep 2001, In: Contemporary Politics. 7, 3, p. 191-204 14 p.
- המפלגות בישראל: בין מדינה וחברה, פדהצור, ע. & רהט, ג., 2001, In: מדינה וחברה. 1, 1, p. 5-9 5 p.
- The paradox of civic education in non-liberal democracies: The case of Israel, Pedahzur, A., 2001, In: Journal of Education Policy. 16, 5, p. 413-430 18 p.
- מציאת פתרונות "סבירים" ולא נהייה אחר פתרונות "מושלמים": [מאמר ביקורת], פדהצור, ע., 2001, In: מפנה: במה לעניני חברה. 35, p. 42-43 2 p.
- Struggling with the Challenges of Right-Wing Extremism and Terrorism within Democratic Boundaries: A Comparative Analysis, Pedahzur, A., 2001, In: Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 24, 5, p. 339-359 21 p.
- פוטנציאל התמיכה באלימות פוליטית בחברה הישראלית: הערכה כמותית, חסייסי, ב., פדהצור, ע. & בריכטה, א., 2000, In: פוליטיקה: כתב-עת למדע המדינה וליחסים בינלאומיים. 6, p. 65-82 18 p.
- Hatred by hated people: Xenophobia in israel, Pedahzur, A. & Yishai, Y., 1999, In: Studies in Conflict and Terrorism. 22, 2, p. 101-117 17 p.
- הזר, השונה והגר - התייחסות הישראלים לגרים שבשערם, פדהצור, ע., 1999, In: מפנה: במה לעניני חברה. 27, p. 23-26 4 p.
- מתנחלים, רוצו לכנסת, פדהצור, ע., 1999, In: נקודה. 222, p. 17-21 5 p.
- מ"התחייה" ועד "תקומה" - יש"ע ומפלגות המחנה הלאומי בין יריבות לאינטגרציה, פדהצור, ע., 1999, In: מחקרי יהודה ושומרון. כרך ט, p. 293-306 14 p.
Education
• Ph.D. in Political Science, University of Haifa, 1999
• M.A. in Political Science (Dean's List), University of Haifa, 1996
• B.A. in Sociology, Anthropology, and Political Science, University of Haifa, 1994
• Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Political Science, University of Nevada, Reno, 2001
• Visiting Researcher, Centre for the Study of Political Violence and Terrorism, University of St. Andrews, 1997
Academic Background
Professor Pedahzur served as the Ralph W. Yarborough Centennial Professor of Liberal Arts (2018-2023) and Arnold S. Chaplik Professor in Israel and Diaspora Studies (2013-2018) at the University of Texas at Austin. He was Professor of Government at UT Austin (2005-2023) and at the University of Haifa (1998-2005). He founded the Institute for Israel Studies at UT Austin and the TIGER Lab for terrorism research. He serves as Associate Editor of Studies in Conflict and Terrorism and is on the editorial boards of journals including Armed Forces & Society and Terrorism and Political Violence.
Research Areas
• Political Radicalism
• Suicide Terrorism and Political Violence
• Counterterrorism and Intelligence Services
• Special Operations Forces
• Social Networks and Political Analysis
Awards
• President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award, UT Austin, 2010
• Raymond Dickson Centennial Endowed Teaching Fellowship, UT Austin, 2009
• Donald D. Harrington Fellowship, UT Austin, 2004
• Outstanding Advisor for a Master's Thesis Award, University of Haifa, 2004
• Outstanding Lecturer Award, Rector and Dean of Students, University of Haifa, 1999
• Knesset Speaker Award for Outstanding Student, 1998
Media
Selected Books:
• The Triumph of Israel's Radical Right (Oxford University Press, 2012)
• Jewish Terrorism in Israel (Columbia University Press, 2009)
• The Israeli Secret Services and the Struggle against Terrorism (Columbia University Press, 2009)
• Suicide Terrorism (Polity Press, 2005)
• The Israeli Response to Jewish Extremism and Violence: Defending Democracy (Manchester University Press, 2002)
Additional Info
Languages: Hebrew (Native), English, Arabic
Skills: LaTeX, R, LLM, Tableau, ArcGIS, PKM