Political Terrorism: An Historical Case Study of the Italian Red Brigades

Abstract

As the world's governments become increasingly engulfed in economic and political strife, international leaders should step back and understand what historical realities enabled political extremism to surface in particular regions of the world. More important, these leaders need to recognize what past governments did to counter these movements. Global communities are currently witnessing a dynamic trend of populous uprisings that in some cases, like Greece and the United States, have the potential to severely disrupt the activities of local governments. Consequently, it behooves leaders to reflect upon historical precedence in order to avoid repeating the same mistakes of our forefathers. Accordingly, the rise and fall of the Italian Red Brigades represents a classic case study from which to understand the dynamics behind the development of a political terrorist organization and its effects on society as a whole.