W-symmetry is an extension of conformal symmetry in two dimensions. Since its introduction in 1985, W-symmetry has become one of the central notions in the study of two-dimensional conformal field theory. The mathematical structures that underlie W-symmetry are so-called W-algebras, which are higher-spin extensions of the Virasoro algebra. This book contains a collection of papers on W-symmetry, covering the period from 1985 through 1993. Its main focus is the construction of W-algebras and their representation theory. A recurrent theme is the intimate connection between W-algebras and affine Lie algebras. Some of the applications, in particular W-gravity, are also covered.The significance of this reprint volume is that there are no textbooks entirely devoted to the subject.Contents: History and BackgroundClassical W-Algebras and Their Connection to Toda Field TheoriesQuantum W-AlgebrasQuantum Drinfel'd-Sokolov ReductionCoset ConstructionsW∞ Type AlgebrasW-Gravity and W-StringsReadership: Students and researchers in the field of conformal field theory.Key Features:Distinguished contributors (Mr K Shanmugam, Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Singapore; Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, Former Cabinet Minister for Petroleum, India; Mr Sartaj Aziz, Former Finance Minister for Finance, Planning and Economic Affairs, Pakistan; Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Senior Research Fellow ISAS & Former Foreign Minister, Bangladesh; and several other distinguished academics and public policy expertsWide coverage of issues such as socio-economic development, conflict resolution, terrorism, political developments, environmental challenges governance etc.Regional perspectives as well as individual country analysis (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka etc.)