Cento Bull Anna - Ending Terrorism in Italy

Ending Terrorism in Italy

Ending Terrorism in Italy analyses processes of disengagement from terrorism, as well as the connected issues of reconciliation, truth and justice. It examines in a critical and original way how terrorism came to an end in Italy (). The book interrogates a wide array of published memoirs and a considerable number of new face-to-face interviews with both former terrorists and first and second generation victims

In the last two decades, and especially in recent years, former extreme-right terrorists in Italy have started to talk about their past involvement in terrorist violence, including, for the first time, acts of violence which have for decades been considered taboo, that is to say, bomb attacks against innocent civilians. These narratives add to the perspectives offered by members of left-wing terrorist groups, such as the Red Brigades and Prima Linea. Surprisingly, these narratives have not been systematically examined, yet they form a unique and extremely rich source of first-hand testimony, providing invaluable insights into processes of youth radicalization and de-radicalization, the social re-integration of ex-terrorists, as well as personal and collective healing.

Even less attention has been paid to the victims narratives or stories. Indeed, the views and activities of the victims and their associations have been seriously neglected in the scholarly literature on terrorism, not just in Italy, but elsewhere in Europe. The book therefore examines the perspectives of the victims and relatives of victims of terrorism, who over the years have formed dedicated associations and campaigned relentlessly to obtain justice through the courts, with little or no support from the state and, especially in the case of the bombing massacres, with increasing awareness that the state played a role in thwarting the course of justice.

Ending Terrorism in Italy will be of interest to historians, social scientists and policy makers as well as students of political violence and post-conflict resolution.

Anna Cento Bull is Professor of Italian History and Politics, University of Bath, UK.

Philip Cooke is Professor of Italian History and Culture at the University of Strathclyde, UK.

Routledge studies in extremism and democracy

Series Editors:

Roger Eatwell

University of Bath

and

Matthew Goodwin

University of Nottingham

Founding Series Editors:

Roger Eatwell

University of Bath

and

Cas Mudde

University of Antwerp-UFSIA

This new series encompasses academic studies within the broad fields of extremism and democracy. These topics have traditionally been considered largely in isolation by academics. A key focus of the series, therefore, is the (inter-)relation between extremism and democracy. Works will seek to answer questions such as to what extent extremist groups pose a major threat to democratic parties, or how democracy can respond to extremism without undermining its own democratic credentials.

The books encompass two strands:

Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy includes books with an introductory and broad focus which are aimed at students and teachers. These books will be available in hardback and paperback. Titles include:

Understanding Terrorism in America

From the Klan to al Qaeda

Christopher Hewitt

Fascism and the Extreme Right

Roger Eatwell

Racist Extremism in Central and Eastern Europe

Edited by Cas Mudde

Political Parties and Terrorist Groups (2nd Edition)

Leonard Weinberg, Ami Pedahzur and Arie Perliger

The New Extremism in 21st Century Britain

Edited by Roger Eatwell and Matthew Goodwin

New British Fascism

Rise of the British National Party

Matthew Goodwin

The End of Terrorism?

Leonard Weinberg

Mapping the Extreme Right in Contemporary Europe

From local to transnational

Edited by Andrea Mammone, Emmanuel Godin and Brian Jenkins

Varieties of Right-Wing Extremism in Europe

Edited by Andrea Mammone, Emmanuel Godin and Brian Jenkins

Routledge Research in Extremism and Democracy offers a forum for innovative new research intended for a more specialist readership. These books will be in hardback only. Titles include:

1 Uncivil Society?

Contentious politics in post-Communist Europe

Edited by Petr Kopecky and Cas Mudde

2 Political Parties and Terrorist Groups

Leonard Weinberg and Ami Pedahzur

3 Western Democracies and the New Extreme Right Challenge

Edited by Roger Eatwell and Cas Mudde

4 Confronting Right Wing Extremism and Terrorism in the USA

George Michael

5 Anti- Political Establishment Parties

A comparative analysis

Amir Abedi

6 American Extremism

History, politics and the militia

D. J. Mulloy

7 The Scope of Tolerance

Studies on the costs of free expression and freedom of the press

Raphael Cohen-Almagor

8 Extreme Right Activists in Europe

Through the magnifying glass

Bert Klandermans and Nonna Mayer

9 Ecological Politics and Democratic Theory

Mathew Humphrey

10 Reinventing the Italian Right

Territorial politics, populism and post-Fascism

Carlo Ruzza and Stefano Fella

11 Political Extremes

An investigation into the history of terms and concepts from antiquity to the present

Uwe Backes

12 The Populist Radical Right in Poland

The patriots

Rafal Pankowski

13 Social and Political Thought of Julius Evola

Paul Furlong

14 Radical Left Parties in Europe

Luke March

15 Counterterrorism in Turkey

Policy choices and policy effects toward the Kurdistan workers party (PKK)

Mustafa Coar nal

16 Class Politics and the Radical Right

Edited by Jens Rydgren

17 Rethinking the French New Right

Alternatives to modernity

Tamir Bar-On

18 Ending Terrorism in Italy

Anna Cento Bull and Philip Cooke

Ending Terrorism in Italy

Anna Cento Bull and Philip Cooke

First published 2013

by Routledge

2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada

by Routledge

711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017

Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2013 Anna Cento Bull and Philip Cooke

The right of Anna Cento Bull and Philip Cooke to be identified as authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

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British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library