A concise and accessible survey of this topical and complex subject, this is the first book of its type to focus on the terrorists, and their psychology, in an historical context.

Focusing on a variety of prominent terrorist groups together with a number of less notorious ones, the book encourages readers to think about the mindset, motivation and tactics of terrorists. David J. Whittaker analyzes examples of terrorists working as individuals, such as Timothy McVeigh, and those working in groups, such as Al-Qaida, over the last two or three decades. He goes on to discuss the...

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....