Ranjan, A. 2011. On Terrorism: Illusion and Reality. Lucknow: Rahul Foundation. pp.35. ISBN: 978-81-906415-6-2.
The essay elaborates on an understanding of terrorism with special focus on comparing it to people’s revolution. The emphasis is on tracing the history of people’s movements and comparing them to what are labelled as “terrorist movements”.
It makes an important distinction in understanding the developmental path. In revolutions, this path is seen as spiral; whereas in terrorism, it is seen as linear.
The role of working class, and the attempt to overthrow the bourgeois, in an attempt to achieve a class less society through Proletarian revolution in European society has been discussed. Further, the role of revolutionary parties/organisation has also been highlighted.
Social revolution is seen as a question of state power. Economic concessions and relief are seen as insufficient in bringing about a change. Instead, a change in political system is advocated. The role of intelligentsia in this entire process of organised rebellion is key. In this “terrorism is a petty, bourgeois, or middle class revolutionary trend. The essay goes on to trace the development of communist political parties.