2136 violent groups and organizations in 126 countries are engaged in political terrorism and anti-terrorism. This handbook contains a 200-page directory of these terrorist and anti-terrorist groups, describing their leadership, history, activities and alliances. In addition to the directory, there is a discussion of theories, concepts, and databases, as well as the largest existing bibliography on terrorism - 5831 entries in many languages. Originally published in 1984, the first edition went through two printings and won a national award for the best book in political science. This new edition has been rewritten, expanded and updated.
Alex P. Schmid is senior research fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Conflicts (COMT), State University of Leiden, The Netherlands. His earlier works include Intervention and Counterrevolution in the Russian Civil War, 1918-20, and Political Terrorism: A Research Guide to Concepts, Theories, Data Bases, and Literature.