The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research

This major new Handbook synthesises more than two decades of scholarly research, and provides a comprehensive overview of the field of terrorism studies. The content of the Handbook is based on the responses to a questionnaire by nearly 100 experts from more than 20 countries as well as the specific expertise and experience of the volume editor and the various contributors. Together, they guide the reader through the voluminous literature on terrorism, and propose a new consensus definition of terrorism, based on an extensive review of existing conceptualisations. The work also features a large collection of typologies and surveys a wide range of theories of terrorism. Additional chapters survey terrorist databases and provide a guide to available resources on terrorism in libraries and on the Internet. It also includes the most comprehensive World Directory of Extremist, Terrorist and other Organizations associated with Guerrilla Warfare, Political Violence, Protest and Organized- and Cyber-Crime. The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research will be an essential work of reference for students and researchers of terrorism and political violence, security studies, criminology, political science and international relations, and of great interest to policymakers and professionals in the field of counter-terrorism.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction Alex P. Schmid  2. The Problem of Defining Terrorism Alex P. Schmid  3. Typologies of Terrorism and Political Violence Sarah Marsden and Alex P. Schmid  4. Theories of Terrorism Bradley McAllister and Alex P. Schmid  5. Databases on Terrorism Neil G. Bowie and Alex P. Schmid  6. World Directory of Extremist, Terrorist and Other Organizations associated with Guerrilla Warfare, Political Violence, Protest and Organized and Cyber-Crime Albert J. Jongman  7. Library and Internet Resources for Research on Terrorism Eric Price  8. The Literature on Terrorism Alex P. Schmid  9. Bibliography of Terrorism Gillian Duncan and Alex P. Schmid  10. Glossary and Acronyms on Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Alex P. Schmid

About the Author :
Alex P. Schmid is a Vsiting Research Fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism (ICCT) in The Hague, The Netherlands. He is also Editor of TRI's online journal Perspectives on Terrorism. He was Director of the Terrorism Research Initiative (TRI), an international network of scholars who seek to enhance human security through collaborative research, Director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence (CSTPV) at the University of St Andrews, UK, where he held a chair in International Relations and, until 2005, Officer-in-Charge of the Terrorism Prevention Branch at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna. Currently he is Fellow-in-Residence at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIAS).

Review :
'Alex Schmid has produced a book that is extraordinary in its scope and painstakingly comprehensive in its synthesis of knowledge and experience of terrorism research. His 1988 book Political Terrorism long occupied a cornerstone position as one of the few absolutely essential core texts for every terrorism researcher. The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism has surpassed even that. Whether you are a novice or an expert, this is simply a must-have source for every serious terrorism researcher.' John Horgan, Director, International Center for the Study of Terrorism, Penn State University 'A prodigious effort to bring together the collective wisdom of experts from around the world [...] an invaluable resource to students, scholars and policy makers, this new volume should be the starting point of every serious student of the subject.' - Louise Richardson, University of St. Andrews, UK "Readers are fortunate to have Alex Schmid's 'The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research'. It captures many of the findings produced by the myriad studies on terrorism and counterterrorism and outlines them in an easy to follow chapter framework. It is a big book...but its depth of detail merits its cost.(...)Readers will benefit from the volume's authoritative approach to analyzing the unremitting terrorist threat. While terrorism does not seem to be abating, this comprehensive volume proves it is not beyond understanding or, ultimately, disabling".a - The Washington Times, 1 April 2011 (Review by Joshua Sinai). 'The extraordinary Handbook Alex Schmid edited is by far the most comprehensive, valuable, clear, well written description and evaluation of the immense literature on terrorism and counter-terrorism. Participants focus on definitions, typologies, theories, data bases, primary sources for research, etc. A special feature is the responses of 100 authorities in the field to critical questions on terrorist and counter-terrorist activities. Public libraries will find the book indispensable. All scholars in the field will enthusiastically welcome it, and policy makers will find it exceedingly useful. University students studying terrorism will be urged to scrutinize it intensely. Those of us who have been waiting decades for the book will have all our expectations filled.' - David C. Rapoport, Founding and CoEditor, Journal of Terrorism and Political Violence