How does subrevolutionary terrorism differ from revolutionary terrorism?
The primary distinction between revolutionary and subrevolutionary terrorism lies in their ultimate political objectives regarding the existing regime.
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Revolutionary Terrorism: Practitioners of this form seek the complete abolition of a political system and its total replacement with new structures. This is considered the most common form of terrorism and is exemplified by groups such as the Red Brigades and the Shining Path.12
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Subrevolutionary Terrorism: This form is used not to overthrow an existing regime, but rather to modify the existing sociopolitical structure. Because these groups often aim to achieve change through the threat of deposing a regime rather than its total destruction, they can be more difficult to identify. An example of this approach is the African National Congress (ANC) and its campaign to end apartheid in South Africa.12
While both forms utilize the calculated use of violence to generate fear and achieve political goals, revolutionary movements aim for systemic transformation, whereas subrevolutionary movements focus on specific sociopolitical reforms.123