The author begins by seeking to explain why terrorism has risen higher in the hierarchy of ‘global issues’ at a time when the trend in international terrorist incidents, those involving the territory or citizens of more than one country, is declining. The second part of the article surveys what the Western Alliance is doing to combat terrorism, and concludes that although much has been achieved by improved international cooperation in counterterrorism more efforts are needed to deal with crises and conflicts which, if left to languish, can lead to violence and terrorism.