Examines global terrorist networks and discusses the long-term future of terrorism.

'No one understands terrorism better than Paul Wilkinson...if policy makers read this book they will understand the problems better. If terrorists read it they will understand themselves a lot better.' - Michael Clarke, King’s College London, University of London, UK This acclaimed study examines both the new terror networks and those that have been around for decades. This new edition brings it up-to-date with the dramatic opening of the twenty-first century, with new chapters on the 9/11 attacks, the growth of international terrorism, the Al Qaeda network and the War on Terror. This text provides us with some much needed criteria for distinguishing between terrorists and freedom fighters and an explanation of the uses of terrorism as a political, social, religious and criminal weapon. Wilkinson also links the use of terrorism to a wider repertoire of struggle. He proposes a variety of possible counter-measures and valuable principles carefully distilled from the recent past to help design a response that is compatible with democratic principles, the rule of law and respect for human rights. This book is essential reading for undergraduate and postgraduate students of terrorism studies, political science and international relations, as well as for policy makers and journalists.

Assesses the major trends and developments in terrorism since the Cold War; Evaluates the options open to democratic governments in combating terrorism; Exposes prevalent myths and half-truths surrounding terrorists and 'freedom fighters'; Good reviews expected; Paul Wilkinson is Britains' leading author on terrorism, appearing often on Channel 4 News; In this major new book the author examines both the new terrorist networks and those that have been around for decades. He also provides US with some much needed criteria for distinguishing between terrorists and freedom fighters, and an explanation of the uses of terrorism as a political, social, criminal and religious weapon. Wilkinson also links the use of terrorism to a wider repertoire of struggle, as it is often used as an adjunct to guerrilla warfare or even full-scale conventional military conflict such as in the Russo-Chechen wars. We are warned against the complacent view that worldwide terrorism is in decline. Over 90% of terrorist attacks are purely internal, thus the annual statistics on international terrorism are dangerously misleading. We are not provided with a magic formula for governments to use, each conflict call

A chilling, up-to-the-minute look at the links between political instability and terrorism in Asia and Africa

A comparative study of the policies, strategies, and instruments employed by various democratic governments in the fight against terrorism.