"Powerfully argued and thought-provoking, [this book] examines whether the world changed as a result of the events of 11 September 2001. It argues that the significance of the assault on America has been overstated and that terrorism with a global reach is best seen as a consequence of other, more fundamental changes. This author contends that the development and global outreach of terrorism stem from the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the superpower hegemony, aided by the spread of international technology and communications. He also examines the consequences of the political exploitation of terrorism and underlines the dangers created by the politicization of counter-terrorism for partisan purposes. Above all, this stimulating book attempts to place terrorism -- now a word full of nuance and meaning and denoting a phenomenon which occupies so much government time and money -- within the context of history and current affairs. It is an important contribution to the ongoing debate about the causes and nature of terrorism."--Page 4 of cover.