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Friday, February 27, 2009 12:00 AM

Bomb the middle class

In an era of wealth and excess, 19th century French anarchists introduced terrorism as we know it. Can a fascinating new history help us understand our own violent times?
By Andrew O'Hehir

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  • Thursday, February 26, 2009 09:34 PM

    First encounter?

    "Western world's first encounter with terrorism, at least as we use that word today"

    So how do we define it today? Individuals and groups have committed voilent act against civilian targets for political (and religious) reasons for centuries, since the Roman empire at least. Anarchism might more correctly be called the last time the West was so preocuppied with terrorism.

    —larrfirr Read larrfirr's other letters

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