Professor Links Youth Fascination with Terrorism to Pre-Revolutionary Russian Trends
Northwestern scholar Gary Saul Morson argues that today’s American youngsters idolizing terrorists echo a period in pre-Soviet Russia when violent radicalism was celebrated.
In a recent commentary, Gary Saul Morson, a professor of Russian literature, notes that children in pre-revolutionary Russia often aspired to become terrorists, viewing it as a respectable career. He draws a parallel to contemporary America, where some young people admire extremist figures. Morson suggests that the cultural allure of violent rebellion has resurfaced, warning of potential social consequences. The piece reflects on historical patterns to illuminate current attitudes toward political violence.
Why it matters
Understanding how extremist admiration spreads helps gauge risks of rising political violence.
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