The Left and Use of Violence

The advent of guerrilla movement in Iran in the 1970s ushered a period where use of violence against state violence became an integral part of revolutionary discourse. What came to be called the “armed struggle” movement has often been labeled “terrorist” by its detractors. This presentation examines “armed struggle” as it was theorized and justified by the Fadaiyan movement within the historical context of the time. It will also examine and discuss "terrorism" as a concept without precise definition which has been used as an politicized instrument of power relations rather than one of any utility for understanding political/social movements.