Death Orders: The Vanguard of Modern Terrorism in Revolutionary Russia

by Anna Geifman

This fascinating study shows how terrorism as developed and practiced in Romanov Russia has, over the past century, manifested itself as the template for modern and postmodern terrorism as a universal sociocultural, psychological, and existential experience, irrespective of particular political causes, ethnic distinctions, and ideological boundaries.

Arguing that Russia is the birthplace of modern terrorism, Death The Vanguard of Modern Terrorism in Revolutionary Russia uses the nation as a case study of psycho-historical patterns of worldwide terrorist activity during the past century. Key features of early-20th century Russian political extremism serve as models for terrorist experiences in other periods and regions as author Anna Geifman builds a typology of a universal phenomenon.

The book shows how, in Russia and elsewhere, terrorists' objectives have degenerated from punishment of individual adversaries and attempts to intimidate political elites to indiscriminate acts of political violence. It shifts attention from ideology to practices that had been previously hidden, ignored, or rationalized, demonstrating that what terrorists say about their motives may not be what actually drives them to brutality. By looking closely at Russian precedents for the general experience of modern political violence, the book helps illuminate many obscure aspects of terrorism today.

Genres: Russia, History, Terrorism

240 pages, Hardcover

First published May 26, 2005

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite interesting history tracing the origins of modern terrorism back to revolutionary Russia.

[Chris Lira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previously-noted in editing issues aside, this was pretty good. There is also a fair amount of discussion of modern-day Islamic extremism. I find the comparisons between the secular Russian terrorism and that of the faith-based Islamic counterpart to be a bit off though.