Critical Terrorism Studies: A New Research Agenda (Routledge Critical Terrorism Studies)

289 Pages·2009·1.04 MB·English

by  Richard Jackson

Critical Terrorism Studies
In response to the growth of a critical perspective on contemporary issues of
terrorism, this edited volume brings together a number of leading scholars to
debate the new subfield of ‘critical terrorism studies’.
In the years since the 9/11 attacks, the study of terrorism has undergone a
major transformation from a minor subfield of security studies into a large stand-
alone field, and is probably one of the fastest expanding areas of research in the
Western academic world. However, much of the literature is beset by a number
of problems, limiting its potential for producing rigorous empirical findings and
genuine theoretical advancement. In response to these weaknesses in the broader
field, a small but increasing number of scholars have begun to articulate a crit-
ical perspective on contemporary issues of terrorism. This volume brings
together a number of leading scholars to debate the need for, and the shape of,
this exciting new subfield. The first part of the volume examines some of the
main shortcomings and limitations of orthodox terrorism studies, while the
second examines exactly what ‘critical’ terrorism studies would look like. Con-
tributors from a variety of methodological and disciplinary perspectives give this
volume diversity, and it will lay the foundations for, and provoke debate about,
the future research agenda of this new field.
This book will be of much interest to students of critical security studies, ter-
rorism studies and international relations.
Richard Jacksonis Reader in the Department of International Politics, Aberyst-
wyth University, where he is also Senior Researcher at the Centre for the Study
of Radicalisation and Contemporary Political Violence (CSRV). He is the
founding editor of the journal, Critical Studies on Terrorism. Marie Breen
Smythis Director of the Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Contempor-
ary Political Violence at Aberystwyth University. She is a Reader in Inter-
national Politics and co-editor of the journal, Critical Studies on Terrorism.
Jeroen Gunning is Lecturer in International Politics at Aberystwyth University,
Deputy Director of the Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Contemporary
Political Violence and co-editor of the journal, Critical Studies on Terrorism.
1
Critical terrorism studies 2
Series Editors: Richard Jackson, Marie Breen Smyth and 3
JeroenGunning 4
5
Aberystwyth University, UK
6
7
8
9
1
1
1
This book series will publish rigorous and innovative studies on all aspects of 1
terrorism, counterterrorism and state terror. It seeks to advance a new generation of 1
thinking on traditional subjects, and investigate topics frequently overlooked in 1
orthodox accounts of terrorism. Books in this series will typically adopt approaches 1
informed by critical-normative theory, post-positivist methodologies and non- 1
Western perspectives, as well as rigorous and reflective orthodox terrorism studies. 1
1
Terrorism and the Politics of Response 2
Edited by Angharad Closs Stephens and Nick Vaughan-Williams 2
2
Critical Terrorism Studies 2
A new research agenda 2
Edited by Richard Jackson, Marie Breen Smyth and Jeroen Gunning 2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
1 Critical Terrorism Studies
2
3
A new research agenda
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
Edited by Richard Jackson,
3
4 Marie Breen Smyth and Jeroen Gunning
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
1
1
First published 2009 1
by Routledge 1
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
1
Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada 1
by Routledge
1
270 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10016
1
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
1
This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2009.
2
“To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s 2
collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.”
2
© 2009 Selection and editorial matter, Richard Jackson, Marie Breen
2
Smyth and Jeroen Gunning; individual chapters, the contributors
2
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
2
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in 2
any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing 2
from the publishers.
2
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
2
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
3
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
3
A catalog record for this book has been requested
3
ISBN 0-203-88022-6 Master e-book ISBN
3
3
ISBN10: 0-415-45507-3 (hbk) 3
ISBN10: 0-203-88022-6 (ebk) 3
ISBN13: 978-0-415-45507-7 (hbk) 3
ISBN13: 978-0-203-88022-7 (ebk)
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3 This book is dedicated to Fiona Leggat
4 Conflict resolution facilitator
5 7 November 1975–14 June 2008
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
Contents
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3 List of illustrations ix
4 Notes on contributors x
5 Acknowledgements xii
6
7
8 Introduction: the case for critical terrorism studies 1
9 RICHARD JACKSON, MARIE BREEN SMYTH AND
0 JEROEN GUNNING
1
2
3 PART I
The contemporary study of political terrorism 11
4
5
6 1 Mapping terrorism studies after 9/11: an academic field of
7 oldproblems and new prospects 13
8
MAGNUS RANSTORP
9
0
2 Contemporary terrorism studies: issues in research 34
1
ANDREW SILKE
2
3
3 In the service of power: terrorism studies and US
4
interventionintheglobal South 49
5
6 SAM RAPHAEL
7
8 4 Knowledge, power and politics in the study of political
9 terrorism 66
0
RICHARD JACKSON
1
2
3
4
5
viii Contents
PART II 1
Critical approaches to the study of political terrorism 85 2
3
5 Exploring a critical theory approach to terrorism studies 87 4
5
HARMONIE TOROS AND JEROEN GUNNING
6
7
6 Emancipation and critical terrorism studies 109
8
MATT MCDONALD 9
1
7 Middle East area studies and terrorism studies:
1
establishing links via a critical approach 124 1
KATERINA DALACOURA 1
1
8 The contribution of anthropology to critical terrorism 1
studies 138 1
1
JEFFREY A. SLUKA
1
1
9 Social movement theory and the study of terrorism 156
2
JEROEN GUNNING
2
2
10 The contemporary ‘Mahabharata’ and the many
2
‘Draupadis’:bringinggender to critical terrorism studies 178
2
CHRISTINE SYLVESTER AND SWATI PARASHAR 2
2
11 Subjectivities, ‘suspect communities’, governments, and 2
theethicsofresearch on ‘terrorism’ 194 2
2
MARIE BREEN SMYTH
3
3
12 Critical terrorism studies: framing a new research agenda 216
3
RICHARD JACKSON, MARIE BREEN SMYTH AND
3
JEROEN GUNNING
3
3
Bibliography 237 3
Index 270 3
3
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
1
Illustrations
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3 Figures
4
2.1 Books published with ‘terrorism’ in the title, 1995–2007 35
5
2.2 Collaborative research: percentage of articles with two or
6
more authors 39
7
2.3 Percentage of terrorism research articles applying
8
statistical analysis 41
9
2.4 Percentage of research articles focusing on al-Qaeda 42
0
2.5 Percentage of research articles focusing on militant
1
Islamist terrorist groups 42
2
2.6 Percentage of research articles focusing on suicide terrorism 43
3
2.7 Percentage of research articles focusing on CBRN terrorism 44
4
2.8 Percentage of research articles with a historical focus 46
5
6
7 Table
8
8.1 Percentage of deaths of civilians in Northern Ireland, 1969–88 143
9
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
0
1
2
3
4
5