Extremist Groups Information for Students

Grade 9 Up–Information on 150 extremist groups, the majority of which are active today. Entries include a brief overview of the organization, followed by its history, a short profile of the current leader, a time line of key events, black-and-white photographs, and a summary of its philosophy and tactics. The biographical entries provide little information on the leaders' background, concentrating mainly on political activities. Language can be biased at times; for example, Bobby Sands, a convicted IRA terrorist who died in prison on a hunger strike, is described as a martyr. However, a large number of groups are represented, many of which are overlooked in other publications, including the Breton Revolutionary Army; splinter organizations of established terrorist organizations, such as the Al-Jihad branch of Al-Qaeda; and organizations not normally listed with terrorist groups but that qualify as extremist, such as the Minutemen and Greenpeace. The index includes personal names as well as specific acts of terrorism (for example, robberies and suicide bombings). Stephen E. Atkins's Encyclopedia of Modern Worldwide Extremists and Extremist Groups (2004) and Encyclopedia of Modern American Extremists and Extremist Groups (2002, both Greenwood) are more user-friendly for researchers at this level, as their texts are more accessible. However, for students doing in-depth research, this up-to-date set would be the one to use.