Paul Wilkinson (professor)

Paul Wilkinson (born 9 May, 1937, Harrow, Middlesex) is former Professor of International Relations and former Director of the University of St Andrews Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence. He has become a familiar presence as a commentator in the mainstream British media in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S.

Wilkinson was educated at the Lower School of John Lyon in Harrow. He gained a BA in Modern History and Politics at University College, Swansea, followed by an MA.

After six years service as a regular Royal Air Force officer he started his academic career at the University of Wales, Cardiff, as Assistant Lecturer in Politics, in 1966. He became Senior Lecturer and then Reader in Politics at Cardiff before being appointed to the first Chair in International Relations at the University of Aberdeen of 1979.

In 1989 he was appointed to the first Chair in International Relations at the University of St Andrews. From 1989 to 1994 he was director of the Research Institute for the Study of Conflict and Terrorism.

During the 1997-8 academic year he was a Visiting Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge. He is co-founder and was co-editor of the academic journal Terrorism and Political Violence 1989-2006, and directed a research project funded by the ESRC, on the preparedenss of the UK for future terrorist attack. He served as Adviser to Lord Lloyd of Berwick's Inquiry into Legislation Against Terrorism, and authored vol. two, the Research Report for the Inquiry (1996).

Professor Wilkinson retired from the Chair at St Andrews in September 2007.

Books and Publications

Single Authored Books

Political Terrorism (1974)Terrorism versus Democracy (1976)Terrorism and the Liberal State (1977)Terrorism: International Dimensions (1979)The New Fascists (1981)The New Fascists (second edition) (1983)Terrorism and the Liberal State (second edition) (1986)Lessons of Lockerbie (1989)Terrorist Targets and Tactics (1990)The Victims of Terrorism research report of the Airey Neave Trust (1994)Combating International Terrorism (1995)Inquiry into Legislation Against Terrorism volume two, research report (1996)Terrorism versus Democracy: The Liberal State Response (2000)Terrorism Versys Democracy: The Liberal State Response, Second Edition revised and updated (2006)

Jointly Authored

Terrorism: Theory and Practice (1978)British Perspective on Terrorism (1981)Contemporary Research on Terrorism (1986)Terrorism and International Order (1986)Technology and Terrorism (1993)Terrorism: British Perspectives (1993)Aviation Terrorism and Security (1999)Addressing the New Terrorism (2003)Terrorism and Human Rights (2006)

Forthcoming Publications

Homeland Security in the UK: Government Preparedness for Terrorist Attacks since 9/11 (due to be published in Spring 2007)International Relations: A Very Short Introduction (due to be published in July 2007)