The present situation in the determination of ${\alpha }_s$

Abstract

This note reviews the latest measurements of ${\alpha }_s$ from event shapes in $e^{+}{e}^{-}$ annihilation at LEP1 and LEP2. A critical review of different methods to extract \as is offered.

to be published in the proceedings of the DIS03 workshop, St. Petersburg 23.-27.april, 2003 (references added)