Left-wing terrorism

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Left-wing terrorism is a form of terrorist political violence motivated by far-left ideologies,^[2] committed with the aim of overthrowing current capitalist systems and replacing them with communist, Marxist, anarchist, or socialist societies.^[3] Left-wing terrorism can also occur within already socialist states as criminal action against the current ruling government.^[4][5]

The majority of left-wing terrorist groups originated in the aftermath of World War II and they were predominantly active during the Cold War.^[3] Most left-wing terrorist groups that had operated in the 1970s and 1980s disappeared by the mid-1990s.^[2] One exception was the Greek Revolutionary Organization 17 November (17N), which lasted until 2002. Since then, left-wing terrorism is generally carried out by insurgent groups in the developing world.^{[citation needed]}