Political Terrorism

Professor  Paul Wilkinson, a world authority in International Relations and a pioneer of the study of terrorism and political violence.
Professor Wilkinson came to the University of St Andrews in 1989 to take up the first chair in International Relations. He was co-founder of the University’s Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence.
Paul Wilkinson was born on 9 May 1937 in Harrow, Middlesex.  Educated at John Lyon School 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, Paul started his academic career in 1966 at the University of Wales, Cardiff, as Assistant Lecturer in Politics. 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 in 1979. His first book on terrorism, Political Terrorism, was published in 1974.
In 1989 Paul was appointed to the first Chair in International Relations at the University of St Andrews and in 1990 was made the first Head of the new Department of International Relations. In 1994 he co-founded, with its first director Bruce Hoffman, the unique research centre, CSTPV (Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence).
The Centre has since become one of the most respected and well known in its field.  From 1989 to 1994 he was director of the Research Institute for the Study of Conflict and Terrorism.
During Professor Wilkinson’s time at St Andrews, the School of International Relations experienced a huge expansion in staff and student numbers, and Paul played a significant role in this. He was a popular teacher and mentor, and was highly instrumental in the development of the CSTPV.
Professor Wilkinson was co-founder and co-editor of the academic journal Terrorism and Political Violence from 1989 – 2006, and directed a research project funded by the ESRC, on the preparedness of the UK for future terrorist attack. He also 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). During the 1997-8 academic year Professor Wilkinson was a Visiting Fellow at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Throughout his career, Professor Wilkinson was a strong opponent of terrorism of all kinds. In his publications and contributions to the media he consistently argued that the democratic response to both domestic and international terrorism should always be guided by the Rule of Law.
He publicly opposed attempts to increase the period permitted to detain terrorism suspects without trial in the UK and condemned the Guantanamo project and other measures by the administration of President George W. Bush which departed from basic Rule of Law Principles.
Speaking in 2006 he said, “I have discovered that, contrary to so much received opinion, it is possible for democracies to respond effectively to contemporary terrorism without undermining basic civil liberties and the rule of law, and that the protection of human rights, far from being an obstacle to effective counter-terrorism is a vital part of an effective long-term democratic response.”
Professor Wilkinson was the sole author of fifteen books on the subject of terrorism, including Lessons of Lockerbie (1989), and joint author of a further ten, including 2007’s Homeland Security in the UK: Future Preparedness for Terrorist Attacks since 9/11.
He retired from his position as Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence in August 2007 and was appointed Emeritus Professor of International Relations.  Paul was not just a familiar face around St Andrews but in living rooms around the globe as a well-known commentator on the scourge of terrorism.  A widely quoted expert in the media in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the U.S, he was still providing expert comment to the media following the Norway atrocities last month.
In 2009, Professor Wilkinson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the New Year Honours list in recognition of distinguished public service.
While nominally retired, Paul remained indefatigable in recent years speaking to the media and policy makers, organising and attending conferences, engaging with CSTPV, continuing to teach and writing. At the time of his death he was working on a new book due to be published next year.
He was a close friend of St Andrews Principal and Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson, with whom he shared academic and research interests.