We tend to think of terrorism as being a modern phenomenon that grew out of the Middle East. Few people know that the rules, conduct and procedures used by terror groups around the world were developed in Europe.

The French Jacobeans used terror to secure the French Revolution. Led by Maximilien Robespierre, he linked terror to virtue. Realizing publicity was key to making terror more effective, he made executions a public spectacle.

"The Reign of Terror" killed thousands by the guillotine. Eventually the terror he caused cost him his own life in 1794. He was guillotined by his political enemies.

This is an early example of state-sponsored terrorism.

The next terror wave came about in Russia in late in the 19th century. Karl Marx called Russia the "France of the 19th Century." Bolshevik revolutionaries began trying to overthrow the monarchy. Their name translates into roughly "The People's Will."

Karl Marx may have formatted the Russian Revolution with his Communist Manifesto, But Sergey Nechayev created the blueprint for terrorism that is still being followed today.

Sergey Nechayev wrote in his catechism the basic rules of the terrorist/revolutionary. He emphasized total self sacrifice and limitless violence towards the utter destruction of the target state. Martyrdom for the cause became an essential part of terrorism.

He also developed the compartmentalization system of terror where the individual soldier only knew enough to do one task but not enough to link him with the org at large.

Familiar tactics also emerged during this time. In 1881 a terrorist killed Czar Alexander II with a roadside bomb. The people did not rise up to overthrow the government. Quite the opposite, they mourned the loss of their ruler.

The plotters were hunted down and publicly executed.

Lenin emerged as a leader during that time. He organized the People's Will according to Nechayev's principles and began the systematic application of terror.

When the Russian navy revolted in 1916, he used the confusion to seize power. From that point until the end of his life, he followed the Robespierre doctrine of brutally crushing the population to prevent counter-revolution.

Unfortunately for the Russian people, his successor was even more paranoid and ruthless. Josef Stalin killed millions of his own people and imprisoned millions more.

The world felt the effect of European terror and not just from the Soviet Union. The assassination of Archduke Francis

• 1
• 2
• next page >>

---

Add your voice

Know something about A brief history of terrorism in Europe?
We want to hear your view. Write now!