Malise Ruthven tackles the polemic and stereotypes surrounding this complex phenomenon, one that eludes simple definition, especially since the events in New York on September 11, 2001. But what does 'fundamentalism' really mean? Since it was coined by American Protestant evangelicals in the 1920s, the use of the term 'fundamentalist' has expanded to include a diverse range of radical conservatives and ideological purists, not all of whom are religious. Fundamentalism could now refer to both militant Israeli settlers and the Islamist radicals who oppose them; it can encompass Christians, Hindus, animal liberationists, and even Buddhist nationalists. Ruthven investigates fundamentalism's historical, social, religious, political, and ideological roots, addressing the polemic and stereotypes surrounding this complex phenomenon that urgently needs a clear definition.