The most comprehensive, up-to-date reference work on American extremists and extremist groups. In the last 20 years, the number of extremists and extremist groups in the United States has increased dramatically. This encyclopedia, the only one of its kind, provides the most up-to-date information on 275 of the most influential and significant homegrown extremists and extremist groups that have operated in the United States since 1950, as well as entries on important extremist events, terms, and concepts. More than 75 percent of the converage deals with the period since the 1980s and includes subjects not carried in any other work on the topic. Objective ly written entries focus on left-wing and right-wing individuals and groups who take extreme positions on political, economic, religious, or social issues. Included is the latest information about the workings and agenda of established groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, as well as hard-to-come-by information on a variety of recent militia groups, cults, survivalists, and separatist movements. Each entry is followed by a useful bibliography of books and articles for further research. A timeline of events in American extremism and a selection of photos accompany the text. The largest group of entries deals with political extremism, individuals and groups that advocate a fundamental transformation or overthrow of the United States government. Next in importance are religious extremist groups, which espouse radical religious views. Also featured are economic and social extremists, who combine a strong political orientation with concern about transforming society. Among the many issues covered in this encyclopedia are race, homosexuality, Holocaust denial, anarchy, neo-Nazism, environmentalism, animal rights, and religious cults. Current through the end of 2001, this work is a valuable tool for authoritative information on what has become a growing problem in the United States.