For all participants in left-wing violence the fundamental compelling symbol was ‘armed struggle’ (lotta armata); the immediate goal, the construction of an ‘antagonistic community’ (comunita antagonista) which recognised itself in the practice of violence; the long-term project, the realisation of communism. That much at least could be assented to by all activists, however deeply they were otherwise divided on issues of tactics and strategy, allegiance to particular signatures, and range of political experiences. Whether violence was described as primarily a form of ‘armed propaganda’ in the language of the Red Brigades or as a moment of self-realisation and demonstration of autonomy from the existing order in the jargon of Autonomia, concern with its role in both constructive and destructive dimensions was general. Relations with opponents and enemies will be examined in Chapters 3 and 4: here I shall concentrate exclusively on the formation and internal dynamics of the symbolic community of armed struggle.