NBN Book of the Day Jason Burke, "The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s" (Knopf, 2026)
Jan 22, 2026
Jason Burke, a veteran foreign correspondent, dives into the gripping history of international terrorism in the 1970s with his book, The Revolutionists. He explores the motivations of diverse armed groups, from Palestinian liberation to leftist extremism. Burke reveals the spectacle of hijackings aimed at publicity, not mass casualties, and traces the evolution of tactics leading to more lethal methods. He shares surprising insights on key events and figures, making connections that resonate with today's challenges in terrorism and radicalism.
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Parallel Origins Of 1970s Extremism
- The book traces the first wave of international terrorism from the late 1960s to the early 1980s and compares secular leftist and Islamist strands in parallel.
- Jason Burke argues this juxtaposition reveals shared tactics and mutual influence that shaped later extremist movements.
Islamism’s 1960s-70s Roots
- Islamist extremism began earlier than commonly assumed, rooted in the late 1960s and accelerated by events like the 1979 Iranian Revolution.
- Burke shows Islamism drew on left-wing tactics and vocabulary, making it a revolutionary movement in its own right.
Palestinian Groups As International Hubs
- Palestinian groups became focal points for international militants and training camps hosted many foreign radicals.
- Burke emphasizes the global cross-pollination among Europeans, Latin Americans, and Japanese who joined or learned from Palestinian factions.
