Jason Burke The Revolutionists: How the Radical 1970s Changed the World

About

The 1970s were a decade when revolution felt imminent. Students marched, workers struck, empires collapsed and a small but determined minority decided that protest was not enough. In this gripping and panoramic talk, Guardian correspondent Jason Burke traces how idealistic youth movements across Europe, the Middle East and Asia turned to militancy reshaping politics, security and global culture in ways that still reverberate today.

Drawing on three decades of frontline reporting, exclusive interviews and deep archival research, Burke reveals how groups like the Red Brigades and the BaaderMeinhof Gang believed they were accelerating history. He shows how their shared language of liberation hardened into rigid ideology; how underground networks connected Berlin, Beirut, and beyond; and how government crackdowns transformed policing, intelligence services and counter-terror strategy permanently.

This is not simply a history of clandestine cells and safehouses. It is a story of yearning for justice, meaning, belonging and of how these desires can be manipulated, radicalised and weaponised. Burkes argument, described by critics as sober, humane and urgent, forces us to consider the lessons for today:

* What happens when political institutions fail to persuade?
* Why do certain ideas catch fire among the young at moments of crisis?
* And how should societies respond without losing their own moral bearings?

The Revolutionists is essential for anyone concerned with the roots of modern extremism, the tensions between protest and violence, and the enduring allure of the revolutionary dream. It is both a vivid historical narrative and a warning about the temptation of absolute certainty in divided times.

Jason Burke is one of Britains most respected foreign correspondents and currently the Guardians international security correspondent. Over twenty-five years, he has reported from across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa, covering insurgencies, revolutions, and wars firsthand. His books including Al-Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam, The 9/11 Wars and The New Threat are widely recommended as the most nuanced and authoritative accounts of contemporary militant movements. Renowned for clarity, empathy and on-the-ground insight, he is regarded as the reporter who explains the world we live in rather than merely describing it.

A Q&A Session will follow.