How did the Red Brigades and the Red Army Faction fit the category of revolutionary terrorism?

The Red Brigades and the Red Army Faction are classified as revolutionary terrorists because their primary objective was the complete abolition of their respective national political systems and their replacement with new, radical structures.1

• Red Brigades: This Italian organization sought to undermine the state to facilitate a Marxist upheaval led by the proletariat. Through kidnappings, assassinations, and sabotage, they aimed to dismantle existing political institutions.2
• Red Army Faction: Emerging from the West German student protest movement, this group viewed the government as a fascist holdover and the United States as an imperialist power. Their strategy involved bombings, arson, and assassinations intended to provoke an aggressive government response, which they believed would catalyze a broader revolutionary movement.3

Both groups exemplify revolutionary terrorism by rejecting the legitimacy of the established order and employing violence as a tool to force systemic collapse. It is essential to recognize that such movements, regardless of their stated ideological goals, rely on the immoral use of violence against individuals and society to achieve political change, violating the fundamental human right to safety and the rule of law.1