Terrorism, counter-terrorism, and critique: opportunities, examples, and implications

This article explores the parameters, value and limitations of different critical strategies for those dissatisfied with the contemporary politics of terror. It argues, first, that the prominent (counter-)terrorism paradigm - in which terrorism is approached as a ubiquitous and very specific security challenge meriting appropriately exceptional responses - is far more critiqued than we might anticipate. And, second, that such critiques - which can be found across political language, popular culture, everyday life, and beyond - employ distinct critical resources to serve varying ends. Reflecting on these, the article offers a new heuristic distinguishing five critical strategies which seek to: (i) repudiate; (ii) question; (Hi) subvert; (iv) replace, or (v) deconstruct the prominent counter-terrorism paradigm. This typology, it argues, offers scope for optimism and strategic resources for those attracted to a critical terrorism studies project going forward.