Which terrorist groups were especially prominent in the late 20th century?

In the latter half of the 20th century, terrorism was utilized by a variety of political movements across the ideological spectrum, ranging from extreme left-wing revolutionary groups to nationalist and separatist organizations. These groups frequently employed tactics such as kidnapping, assassination, sabotage, and bombings to destabilize governments or advance their political agendas.12

Prominent terrorist organizations during this period included:

• Red Army Faction (RAF): A West German radical leftist group that targeted corporations and military installations, often aligning with militant Palestinian groups.31
• Red Brigades: A far-left Italian organization active during the "Years of Lead," responsible for high-profile kidnappings and assassinations, including that of former Prime Minister Aldo Moro.2
• Japanese Red Army: A militant group that operated internationally during the latter half of the 20th century.1
• Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Fatah: Groups involved in the conflict over a contested homeland, which utilized various terrorist tactics.1
• Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA): A nationalist group that engaged in guerrilla warfare and bombings during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.4
• Shining Path and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam: Organizations that engaged in extreme violence, with the latter notably adopting suicide bombing tactics.1
• FALN: A Puerto Rican nationalist group that carried out acts of violence within the United States.1

By the end of the 20th century, the landscape of terrorism began to shift toward organizations driven by fundamentalist religious ideologies, such as al-Qaeda, which would become a dominant force in the early 21st century.156