Paul Wilkinson

Who was Paul Wilkinson?

Paul Wilkinson CBE was Emeritus Professor of International Relations and former Director of the University of St Andrews Centre for the Study of Terrorism and Political Violence. He became a familiar presence as a commentator in the mainstream British media in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US.

Born in Harrow, Middlesex, Wilkinson was 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 education 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. His first book on terrorism, Political Terrorism, was published in the key concepts in Political Science series in 1974.

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.