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In this first comprehensive comparison of left-wing violence in the United States and West Germany, Jeremy Varon focuses on America's Weather Underground and Germany's Red Army Faction to consider how and why young, middle-class radicals in prosperous democratic societies turned to armed struggle in efforts to overthrow their states. Based on a wealth of primary material, ranging from interviews to FBI reports, this book reconstructs the motivation and ideology of violent organizations active during the 1960s and 1970s. Varon conveys the intense passions of the era--the heat of moral purpose, the depth of Utopian longing, the sense of danger and despair, and the exhilaration over temporary triumphs. Varon's compelling interpretation of the logic and limits of dissent in democratic societies provides striking insights into the role of militancy in contemporary protest movements and has wide implications for the United States' current \"war on terrorism.\" Varon explores Weatherman and RAF's strong similarities and the reasons why radicals in different settings developed a shared set of values, languages, and strategies. Addressing the relationship of historical memory to political action, Varon demonstrates how Germany's fascist past influenced the brutal and escalating nature of the West German conflict in the 60s and 70s, as well as the reasons why left-wing violence dropped sharply in the United States during the 1970s. Bringing the War Home is a fascinating account of why violence develops within social movements, how states can respond to radical dissent and forms of terror, how the rational and irrational can combine in political movements, and finally how moral outrage and militancy can play both constructive and destructive roles in efforts at social change.

The convergence of militant Islamist ideology with the radical ideology of the New Left that emerged in the ‘Sixties, is explored. The contemporary support for terrorism expressed by many elements within the Western intelligentsia, which is heir to the New Left, is explained.

U.S. Department of State. Office of Public Diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean reports that in 1961 Tomas Borge received Military training in Guerrilla warfare from the Palestine Liberation Organization in Lebanon; Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) members trained by the Palestine Liberation Organization reportedly participated in Hijacking and an attempted Overthrow of government in Jordan in 1970; Tomas Borge reportedly used Funding from Libya to obtain Weapons from Korea (People's Democratic Republic); Yasir Arafat visited Nicaragua in July 1980 to formalize Diplomatic relations between the Sandinista Government (19 July 1979-10 January 1985) and the PLO; U.S. Department of State. Office of Public Diplomacy for Latin America and the Caribbean asserts that the links of the Sandinista Government (19 July 1979-10 January 1985) with [Radicals; Marxism-Leninism] as well as its opposition to Zionism caused Nicaraguan Jews to become Nicaraguan exiles; Iran has discussed Oil Sales with Nicaragua and has concluded Trade agreements valued at $23 million; Ortega Administration (10 January 1985-25 April 1990) reportedly issues Passports to Terrorists from the [Middle East; Latin America; Europe] and provides a safe haven for members of the [Red Brigades (Italy); Basque Fatherland and Liberty (Spain); Baader-Meinhof Gang (Federal Republic of Germany)]