Randall D. Law is Associate Professor of History at Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, where he teaches courses on Russia, Modern Europe, and terrorism. He is the author of Terrorism: A History (2009) and is frequently interviewed by national and international reporters on matters related to terrorism and Russian politics. His current research is on terrorism, violence, and criminality in the city of Odessa in the Russian Empire in the early twentieth century.
"""Virtually any student of this form of political violence will find much of interest in this volume...Although presented as a work of history, the book ends with excellent thematic chapters on subjects such as new media, technology, and the fictionalization of terrorist narratives. Valuable as a compendium and as a reference work, this wonderful compilation is a worthwhile addition to any personal or institutional collection. Summing Up: Highly recommended."" M. O'Gara, Rocky Mountain College, CHOICE ""The historical study of terrorism has come of age. Randall Law’s skillfully edited collection follows the spectacle of terror from ancient to recent times, recounting how symbolic violence against the few has long been used to communicate messages to broader audiences. Whether at the hands of state or non-state actors, driven by secular or religious beliefs, or involving real threats or imagined dangers, terrorism has been a strategy best grasped in its historical contexts. Meticulously detailed and sweepingly synthetic, The Routledge History of Terrorism is an essential guide for students and an indispensable resource for researchers and anyone who cares about this burning issue of our day."" Julian Bourg, Boston College, USA ""Exceptionally rich and sophisticated in analysis, The Routledge History of Terrorism is a much needed addition to the currently available literature on the subject and deserves to be read not only by students and academic specialists but also by security analysts, policy makers and general readers."" George Kassimeris, University of Wolverhampton, UK ""The historical study of terrorism has come of age. Randall Law’s skillfully edited collection follows the spectacle of terror from ancient to recent times, recounting how symbolic violence against the few has long been used to communicate messages to broader audiences. Whether at the hands of state or non-state actors, driven by secular or religious beliefs, or involving real threats or imagined dangers, terrorism has been a strategy best grasped in its historical contexts. Meticulously detailed and sweepingly synthetic, The Routledge History of Terrorism is an essential guide for students and an indispensable resource for researchers and anyone who cares about this burning issue of our day."" Julian Bourg, Boston College, USA ""Exceptionally rich and sophisticated in analysis, The Routledge History of Terrorism is a much needed addition to the currently available literature on the subject and deserves to be read not only by students and academic specialists but also by security analysts, policy makers and general readers."" George Kassimeris, University of Wolverhampton, UK"