Terrorism: Understanding The Global Threat

"'a clear and accessible survey of terrorists' motives and methods, strengthened by tables, and helpful chronologies from 1968 to the present' "" ""The Economist"""

"'There is a need for a clear, concise introduction to terrorism... David Whittaker has provided us with just that.' "Peter Hylarides, Contemporary Review""

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Today, terrorism is everyone's concern. Although it is not a new phenomenon - there have been more than 8,000 attacks over the past thirty years - the scale and seemingly indiscriminate nature of terrorist incidents have escalated in recent years. 9/11 and 7/7 are dates now engraved in the minds of millions, dates that have become a short-hand pointing to the consequences of political instability of the modern world.

In this new edition of "Terrorism: Understanding the Global Threat," David J. Whittaker explores terrorist scenarios across the globe, from Northern Ireland to the United States. He considers terrorism's causes and characteristics, taking on topics as diverse as religious fanaticism, global diffusion, terrorist financing and the possibility of biological attack. He also investigates the successes, failures and possible futures of counter-terrorism.

By untangling difficulties of definition and dispelling simplistic notions of what terrorism means, he shows that both word and action have changed over time, and that its meaning is different for every user, whether onlooker, victim, goverment authority or the terrorists themselves.

David J. Whittaker is a retired university lecturer and prolific author. His recent titles include "Asylum Seekers and Refugees in the Contemporary World "(2005),"The Terrorism Reader "(2002), and "Conflict and Reconciliation in the Contemporary World "(1999).

This is an accessible account of the concept of terrorism, specifically looking at how it has shaped and been shaped over the past fifty years.

• Includes new analysis of the London bombings of July 7, 2005 and particular attention will focus on the government and public' s reaction to this terrorist attack in comparison with other countries such as the USA and Spain

• Topical - terrorism is the most urgent international theme of today and tomorrow

What is terrorism and where does it come from? Who are the people who perpetrate terror? What are their motives? Terrorism is now everybody's major and constant fear. This easy-to-read, concise account of terrorism provides the essential global guide to understanding what the threat is and exactly where it comes from. Without this knowledge, argues David Whittaker, there can be no way forward in prevention and control. The book looks in particular at how terrorism has shaped and been shaped by the past half century, the driving forces behind it, the methods, the psychology and the money.

Originally written in the aftermath of September 11, the book has now been updated to reflect how our understanding of and reaction to terrorism has moved on in the past few years. The "Where to Find Out More" section at the end will also be thoroughly updated to include recent websites and publications on the subject.

David Whittaker is the author of "The Terrorism Reader "(2002).