Earlylands in Conversation - Ep. 24 - The Guardian's Jason Burke on His Book "The Revolutionists: The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s"

"If you want to understand October 7th, if you want to understand what's happening in current politics in much of the Middle East, certainly in Iran, then the only place to start is the 1970s.” - The Guardian's Jason Burke

Since our last episode, a new conflict has begun in Iran with ramifications not only for the broader Middle East but forthe entire world. We are very fortunate that today’s interview, which we recorded just hours before the first bombs fell on Tehran, is with a guest who is deeply expert on the roots of the conflict. Guardian journalist Jason Burke has reported from Middle East conflict zones for over 30 years and he isalso the author of the hugely successful 2025 book The Revolutionists: The Story of the Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970s.

The book provides an unprecedented account of a period which definitively shaped today’s world and probes the complex relationship between violence, terrorism, and revolution. The book was short-listed for the 2025 Ballie Gifford prize for non-fiction, with the prize committee calling the book “a sweeping, scrupulously reported historical narrative with the pace and suspense of a thriller.” TheRevolutionists also featured on the best of 2025 lists for the Financial Times, The Times, The Economist, The Guardian, and BBC History.

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