The explosive story of the terrorist group who brought Italy to a standstill in the 1970s.
In March 1978, the Red Brigades kidnapped former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro,murdering his bodyguards. For nearly two months, they held him hostage while a shocked world looked on, before eventually killing him and dumping his body in the middle of Rome. But who were this terrorist group? What did they want? And how did they continue to operate for almost twenty years, terrifying a nation from 1970 to 1988? John Foot’s talk will describe how they became the most formidable left-wing terrorist organisation in post-war Western Europe. Drawing their support from the student protest movements of the 1960s, activists and workers radicalised by the ‘hot autumn’ of 1969, the Red Brigades were inspired by terrorist groups from across the world, especially in Latin America. They recognised no rules and authority other than their own, and launched a campaign of murder, kidnap, kneecapping and intimidationthat paralysed Italy’s justice system and reshaped the political landscape. For a time, they were admired as freedom fighters by the Italian left and commemorated as martyrs. Underlining the meticulous research behind his new book on this subject, Foot will outline the true story behind the myths that have grown around the Red Brigades, highlighting the human costs of their actions, as well as their impact on Italian society. He will explain how the contradictions inherent in their actions eventually led to their downfall in a series of high-profile mass trials and the legacy of conspiracy, distrust and bitterness that still lingers in Italy to this day.
In March 1978, the Red Brigades kidnapped former Italian prime minister Aldo Moro,murdering his bodyguards. For nearly two months, they held him hostage while a shocked world looked on, before eventually killing him and dumping his body in the middle of Rome. But who were this terrorist group? What did they want? And how did they continue to operate for almost twenty years, terrifying a nation from 1970 to 1988? John Foot’s talk will describe how they became the most formidable left-wing terrorist organisation in post-war Western Europe. Drawing their support from the student protest movements of the 1960s, activists and workers radicalised by the ‘hot autumn’ of 1969, the Red Brigades were inspired by terrorist groups from across the world, especially in Latin America. They recognised no rules and authority other than their own, and launched a campaign of murder, kidnap, kneecapping and intimidationthat paralysed Italy’s justice system and reshaped the political landscape. For a time, they were admired as freedom fighters by the Italian left and commemorated as martyrs. Underlining the meticulous research behind his new book on this subject, Foot will outline the true story behind the myths that have grown around the Red Brigades, highlighting the human costs of their actions, as well as their impact on Italian society. He will explain how the contradictions inherent in their actions eventually led to their downfall in a series of high-profile mass trials and the legacy of conspiracy, distrust and bitterness that still lingers in Italy to this day.
John Foot is Professor of Modern Italian History and was recently a Distinguished Visiting Goggio Fellow at the University of Toronto. He has published widely on subjects relating to contemporary Italian history and politics, such as sport and divided memories and psychiatric reform. His most recent books have looked at Italy since 1945 (The Archipelago, 2019), Fascism – Blood and Power (2022) and the Red Brigades (2025).
Important Information
- Doors open at 6.30 pm
- No physical ticket will be issued; your name will be added to our Event Guest List.
- If you pay via credit card/PayPal you will receive an automated receipt; this serves as your booking confirmation.
- If you pay via bank transfer you will not receive an automated receipt or booking confirmation. Please keep your payment record for reference. If you have any doubts feel free to contact us.
- Online bookings close one day before the event. For same-day bookings, please contact us to check availability.
DISCLAIMER: By participating in a BIS webinar or live event you automatically agree to authorise recording of audio and visual content during the event and consent to subsequent use of the recording in the public domain. This recording may include questions, comments and poll responses provided by you during the event in addition to your name, voice, image or likeness. This recording will be made available after the conclusion of the live event as part of the BIS webinar archives, and will remain available indefinitely. If you do not wish to consent to the recording, please do not join the event or contact us to discuss your concerns.