Fundamental Scholarship

Steve Harmon, Pittsburg State University assistant professor of history, did some traveling during the spring semester.  In April Harmon was part of a group of about 20 scholars and government officials from around the world who took part in a United Nations workshop on combating terrorism in Turin, Italy.

“It was all expenses paid,” joked Harmon. “I had to go.  Going to Italy is great any time, but it’s always nicer to go when someone else is footing the bill.”  Dr. Harmon’s expenses were paid by the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI).  He was recommended to them by Isabella Leao, one of his former students.

Harmon gave a presentation entitled “Why Terrorists Kill: Factors that Push Muslim Extremists to Perpetrate Violence.”

“In my talk, I don’t make excuses for folks who fly their planes into buildings or strap bombs to their bodies and blow themselves up on a crowded bus,” explains Harmon, “but I do believe it’s important for us to understand the terrorist’s way of thinking.  It’s also important to understand that not all Muslims are extremists and not all extremists are terrorists.”

Harmon learned things at the conference he will be able to bring back to the classroom.  He says that his expertise in this area has enabled him to help some of the PSU students and alumni who are being deployed to Iraq.

“For example, I can tell them how to describe their own religious beliefs to the average Iraqi on the street.  Those who are Christian can say, ‘I follow the way of Jesus the son of Mary.’ It’s a great ice-breaker. Anything I can do to help our students is a definite plus.”