Whydoterroristorganizationsusechildrentosupporttheircauseandcarryouttheiractivities?SmallArmsuncoversthebrutaltruthbehindthemobilizationofchildrenbyterroristgroups.MiaBloomandJohnHorganshowusthegrimunderbellyofsocietythatallowsandevenencouragestheuseofchildrentoconductterroristactivities.Theyprovidereaderswiththewho,what,when,why,andhowofthisincreasinglyconcerningsituation,illuminatingaphenomenonthattomostofusseemsabhorrent.Andyet,theyargue,forterroristgroupstheuseofchildrencarriesmanybenefits.Childrenpossessskillsthatadultslack.Theyoftenbringinnovationandcreativity.Childrenare,infact,asuperbdemographicfromwhichtorecruitifyouareaterrorist.SmallArmsanswersquestionsaboutrecruitmentstrategiesandtactics,determineswhatmakesachildterroristandwhatmakeshimorherdifferentfromanadultone,andchartsthewaysinwhichorganizationsusethem.Theunconventionalfocusonchildandyouthmilitantsallowstheauthorsto,inessence,giveusabiographyofthechildterroristandtheorganizationsthatusethem.Wearetakeninsidethemindoftheadultandthechildtowitnessthatwhichperhapsmostscaresus.
