How did the international community conceptualize and respond to the threat of political violence during the interwar period? Mary S. Barton, a historian specializing in international relations, examines the diplomatic and security frameworks established between 1919 and 1937. By analyzing primary source documents and state archives, she argues that modern counterterrorism strategies have deep roots in the post-World War I era, where states first attempted to create a unified legal and political response to transnational political violence.

Historians and political scientists frequently cite this work for its rigorous archival research and its contribution to the history of international security. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which is intended for scholars and students of diplomatic history.