Brotherhoods of Fear - Paul Elliott

‘Brotherhoods of Fear’ is a book that promises much more than it delivers. In looking at such diverse groups as the KKK, the Red Army Faction, the Mafia, Aum Shinrikyo and others, one would hope that Elliott would apply some kind of theoretical or psychological framework to link the different groups together. Instead we get the sketchiest kind of definition imaginable, which boils down to the fact that these groups are (a) violent and (b) they don’t give a toss what the rest of the world thinks of them. If it was being published today I suppose that bin Laden would also be included. After all he fits the bill well enough. If that ...  Read the complete review