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.

About the Author

Alex P. Schmid is Director of the Terrorism Research Initiative (TRI), an international network of scholars who seek to enhance human security through collaborative research; he is also Editor of TRI's online journal Perspectives on Terrorism. Until 2009, he was 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).

Reviews

'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.' - Prof. Louise Richardson, Principal and Vice Chancellor, University of St Andrews

'Both seasoned and new scholars of Terrorism Studies will benefit from adding this most useful volume to their bookshelf; it is certainly a must for any university library worth its salt. In the view of this reviewer, there simply is no other reference work on the market that matches The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research in the field of Terrorism Studies that can command the same authority as this volume.' - Anne Speckhard, Georgetown University, Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 27(4), 2015

'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." - 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

'If you need a one-stop authoritative reference book on terrorism - this is it. We at OSCE rely on it.' - Raphael Perl, Head on Anti-Terrorism Issues, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Vienna

'[A] magnificent work and...crowning achievement, The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research...fills a conspicuous lacuna in the field... [T]he most authoritative distillation of the key differences and distinctions separating terror, terrorism, and other forms of political and non-political violence... For the third time in as many decades, Professor Schmid has again produced the seminal compendium on the study of terrorism. He has the field's profoundest thanks and well-deserved congratulations.' - Bruce Hoffman, Studies in Conflict & Terrorism

'This handbook represents the most up-to-date analytic findings and reference resources on terrorism and counterterrorism studies, compiled by Alex Schmid, one of the world's leading academic experts.' - Joshua Sinai, 'Terrorism Bookshelf: Top 150 Books on Terrorism and Counterterrorism', Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol. VI, Issue 2 (May 2012)

'Both seasoned and new scholars of Terrorism Studies will benefit from adding this most useful volume to their bookshelf; it is certainly a must for any university library worth its salt. In the view of this reviewer, there simply is no other reference work on the market that matches The Routledge Handbook of Terrorism Research in the field of Terrorism Studies that can command the same authority as this volume.' - Anne Speckhard, Georgetown University, Terrorism and Political Violence, Vol. 27(4), 2015

Book Information
ISBN 9780415520997
Author Alex Schmid
Format Paperback
Page Count 736
Imprint Routledge
Publisher Taylor & Francis Ltd
Weight(grams) 1330g