  This paper concerns spectral stability of nonlinear waves in KdV-type
evolution equations. The relevant eigenvalue problem is defined by the
composition of an unbounded self-adjoint operator with a finite number of
negative eigenvalues and an unbounded non-invertible symplectic operator
$\partial_x$. The instability index theorem is proven under a generic
assumption on the self-adjoint operator both in the case of solitary waves and
periodic waves. This result is reviewed in the context of other recent results
on spectral stability of nonlinear waves in KdV-type evolution equations.
