`I am very favorably impressed with this book. The author is well informed and an excellent writer. The recommended readings, Web sites, boxes, tables and the like provide very attractive features. There is an abundance of very good historical and current examples. I would adopt this book for my courses and look forward to its publication' - Frank Hagan, Mercyhurst College

Understanding Terrorism, Second Edition, is a uniquely comprehensive exploration of contemporary terrorism, suitable for professional as well as for academic courses of instruction. It incorporates key topics as well as discussion boxes and Web exercises intended to stimulate critical thinking in readers - a true "one-stop shop" for gaining an understanding of the field.

New to the Second Edition:

- new chapters on religious terrorism, a consolidated chapter on ideological terrorism, and a new chapter on two cutting-edge topics: gender-focused political violence and the nexus between criminal enterprises and terrorist violence;

- a resource Website devoted to the book to enhance learning;

- introductory `opening viewpoints in each chapter to give an overview of the concepts explored within.

Understanding Terrorism is one of the first core studies on the subject of terrorism, offering a comprehensive review of the events, ideas, motivations and histories that result in terrorist activity, as well as an examination of the theories helping to explain such activity.