Paul Wilkinson

What do we mean when we speak of terror? In its most important and general sense the term signifies a psychic state of great fear or dread. There is an almost infinite variety of events, phenomena, persons and objects that may, under certain conditions, strike terror into the hearts of human beings. Death and natural catastrophe have provided the common dreads of men and women throughout their history. Mankind's only final defence against the King of Terrors has been his beliefs in a form of life after death, his small cries of faith in the face of disaster.

"Terrorism remains a major problem for many democratic countries and the wider international community. Recent history shows that it would be wrong to underestimate terrorism's potential strategic impact." "Terrorism Versus Democracy examines the problem of liberal democratic response. Is it possible to draw some key lessons from the recent experience of democracies in responding to terrorism? Are democracies fatally disadvantaged in the face of prolonged and ruthless terrorist campaigns? Does the only way to reduce significantly or to end terrorism necessarily involve major curtailments of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law? What are the key ingredients of an effective liberal democratic strategy to deal with terrorism? Is it feasible to develop a response which avoids the dangers of over-reaction and under-reaction undermining the very democracy one is trying to defend, while at the same time effectively protecting the right to life, the most basic of all human rights? All these question and many others are examined in Terrorism Versus Democracy." "This book is aimed not only at academia but also at a wider readership including policy-markers, legislators, and the law-enforcement and security professions as well as members of the general public in all democratic countries."--Jacket.

When the aqueduct that brings fresh water to thousands of people around the bay of Naples fails, Roman engineer Marius Primus heads to the slopes of Mount Vesuvius to investigate, only to come face to face with an impending catastrophe.

SCOTT (Copy 1): From the John Holmes Library Collection.