Book Review: The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s

This review examines Jason Burke’s The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s (2026), a narrative history of the revolutionary groups and individuals associated with transnational terrorism during the 1970s. Drawing on memoirs, archival materials, and declassified documents, the book traces the interactions among a diverse range of actors, including European left-wing organisations, Palestinian groups, and figures who later became associated with Islamist movements. Burke adopts a broad analytical framework that treats these actors as components of a wider transnational revolutionary milieu characterised by personal networks, shared training environments, and overlapping political causes. The review highlights the book’s emphasis on the relationships between revolutionary actors and state intelligence services, as well as its examination of ideological differences and tensions within these networks. It also discusses Burke’s argument that the emergence of Salafi Islamist movements and the Iranian Revolution can be situated within the broader context of the revolutionary currents of the period. While noting that this interpretation raises questions regarding the similarities and differences among diverse ideological movements and historical contexts, the review presents the book as a wide-ranging account that encourages reconsideration of the historical connections and distinctions among various forms of modern international terrorism.