THE FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS AND THE POSITIONS OCCUPIED BY POLITICAL TERRORISTS WITHIN SUCH MOVEMENTS ARE DISCUSSED. A CHRONOLOGICAL REVIEW OF THOSE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS THAT EMPLOYED TERRORIST TACTICS IS PRESENTED. THE TREND TOWARD TRANSNATIONAL TERRORISM IS NOTED, AND THE MOST ACTIVE TERRORIST ORGANIZATIONS AS OF THE LATE 1970'S ARE IDENTIFIED. THE POTENTIAL DANGERS OF POLITICAL TERRORISM TO THE UNITED STATES ARE DISCUSSED BRIEFLY. ELEVEN CHANGES IN LOCAL AND NATIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTITUDES AND PROCEDURES THAT COULD DISCOURAGE AND LESSEN THE IMPACT OF TERRORIST ACTS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE LISTED (E.G., FREE EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, CREATION OF ANTITERRORIST TEAMS AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVELS). REASONS BEHIND THE LIMITED SUCCESS OF EFFORTS BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO COMBAT TERRORISM ARE DISCUSSED. POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SITUATIONS LIKELY TO BREED POLITICAL TERRORISM IN THE FUTURE ARE CONSIDERED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT POLITICAL TERRORISM WILL CONTINUE AS LONG AS WORLD POWERS ARE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO CONTROL IT. THE POSSIBILITY THAT SOME NATIONS REGARD TERRORISM AS AN ACCEPTABLE SUBSTITUTE FOR FORMAL INTERVENTION OR DECLARATION OF WAR IS ALSO BROUGHT OUT. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED. (LKM)