This important book examines why terrorism prevails in the otherwise stable and advanced democracies of Western Europe and why some countries have been more severely hit than others. The author maps the trends in internal terrorism in 18 Western European countries since 1950 and explains those trends, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective. He uses a unique data set called TWEED, which covers around 9000 terrorist attacks and records the activities of about 200 terrorist groups over the post-war period. Offering a historical and comparative approach to terrorism, unlike the more usual focus on contemporary threats and developments, this book will appeal to political and social scientists and students, especially those working in comparative politics or on the causes of conflict. Academics interested in European studies and more specifically the conditions and developments of European democracy, and policymakers concerned with the development of the terrorist threat in Europe will also find the book of great interest.

The book examines the dynamic of West European terrorism and counter-terrorism as it has evolved since the late 1960s. It assesses past, present and future terrorist trends and analyzes the internal security policies that have been initiated by the member states of the European Union (EU), both singularly and collectively, to combat terrorism in Western Europe. Throughout the book the theme of liberal democratic legitimacy and accountability is stressed, something that is brought particularly to bear on the latest EU internal security provision - the Maastricht Third Pillar.

This book is concerned with terrorism in West European liberal democratic states and with the way in which they react, as a group in the European Community, to international terrorism. It interprets terrorism as a means of attempting to effect political change by the indiscriminate use of violence.

This study places terrorist acts in Europe in their historical perspective by examining terrorist and anarchist movements in late nineteenth century Europe. The political and legal aspects of modern terrorism are discussed in detail and the themes and variation in political terrorism are examined fully. In addition, selected case studies of contemporary terrorist movements are considered in the context of the political tradition of the particular country. A comprehensive picture of European terrorism, in its historical and more contemporary ideological and political aspects emerges from this work.

European nations, the victims of left and right wing, separatist, and transnational terrorism, share a desire to deter terrorist violence within their own borders. This provides an incentive to develop effective domestic counterterrorist policies as well as to corrdinate counterterrorism programs among European nations in order to be more effective in the prevention of terrorist violence. Some attempts have been made to improve police and judicial cooperation both within the EU and internationally, and this has had a positive effect on counterterrorism operations. However progress in the area of counterterrorism strategy in Europe continues to be unsatisfactory as it is still the source of internal policy battles and many diplomatic disputes.

This study reviews selected recent and historical terrorist activity in the US and Western Europe. It discusses the current status of terrorist groups in the US, Ireland, Germany and Italy. Definitions of terrorism from authorities in the academic, political and intelligence arena are set forth. Philosophical difficulties with the concept of terrorism are discussed, including the moral dilemma terrorism episodes present to the world community. Terrorism's weaknesses are illustrated both philosophically and practically. Contemporary US terrorism is viewed in the context of a recurring social phenomenon the most recent incarnation dating approximately from the mid-sixties. Statistical accounting of claimed US terrorists incidents from January 1980 to December 1981, is set forth revealing a total of 71 incidents by various groups including Armenian, Jewish, Cuban Croation, Puerto Rican and others. Actions concerned with Puerto Rican terrorism are shown to account for more than 40% of all incidents during the two year period as well as the most significant damages and injuries. Wester European terrorism overview presented with specific details relating views of government officials on aspects of foreign direction, revealing general consensus of no direct evidence of Soviet or foreign control of plans and/or operations. Connection between various national terrorist groups acknowledged but no unified orchestration perceived on the part of many. Terrorism is compared with other social phenomena to place terrorism in its proper context for threat assessment.

The essays in this book concern manifestations of political violence in the democracies of interwar Europe. While research in this area usually focuses on the countries that fell to fascism, the authors demonstrate that violence remained a part of political competition in the democratic regimes of Western Europe too.

This unique volume explores Europe's most dangerous communist terrorist organizations and reveals how they use violence as a means of political communication and persuasion. It outlines seven terrorist groups from Germany, Greece, Spain, France, Belgium, Italy and Turkey and gives their modus operandi, rationale and political messages in translated communiqués never before available in English.

A Transnational History of Right-Wing Terrorism offers new insights into the history of right-wing extremism and violence in Europe, East and West, from 1900 until the present day. It is the first book to take such a broad historical approach to the topic. The book explores the transnational dimension of right-wing terrorism; networks of right-wing extremists across borders, including in exile; the trading of arms; the connection between right-wing terrorism and other forms of far-right political violence; as well as the role of supportive elements among fellow travelers, the state security apparatus, and political elites. It also examines various forms of organizational and ideological interconnectedness and what inspires right-wing terrorism. In addition to several empirical chapters on prewar extreme-right political violence, the book features extensive coverage of postwar right-wing terrorism including the recent resurgence in attacks. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of right-wing extremism, fascism, Nazism, terrorism, and political violence.