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Analysis Of Securitization: The Real Threat Of Terrorism

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Securitization: the real threat of terrorism

Following the tragic attacks of 9/11, the United States invested heavily in institutional entities designed to combat terrorism (Lum, Kennedy & Sherley, 2006:4). Across the pond in Europe, the attack led to an increased sense of vulnerability and the region is still perceived as a key target for both foreign and domestic terrorists (Shaffer, 2016:383). Recent attacks such as those in Stockholm, Nice and Westminster unquestionably bring about a perceived increase in the gravity of the terror threat. Whilst the increase of such attacks is undeniable, the statistical likelihood of becoming a casualty of a terrorist attack is much smaller than that of drowning in your own bathtub (Mueller, 2005:28). …show more content…

By adopting a critical approach, this essay seeks to assess the way in which historical and contextual factors affect knowledge, and effectively practices, regarding terrorism. The critical approach will also allow form an understanding of how the securitization of terrorism as a distinct type of institutional threat can exaggerate the perceived threat of terrorism as such (Vultee,2010:33). Secondly, this essay will discuss how securitization of the terrorist threat lead to a need for implementing counter-terrorism strategies directed to counteract hysteria the personal level (Huddy et. al, 2002:487). Based on this discussion, it will be argued that more resources should be devoted to academic research on how to cost-efficiently reduce fear related to terrorism. Lastly, this essay will critically assess the way in which a state itself can contribute to allowing conditions in which terrorism can occur. Effectively, this essay will point to the ways in which military counterterrorism can prove counterproductive. Based on these arguments, this essay will conclusively argue that more resources should be devoted to secondary effects of prevention strategies and …show more content…

As a preliminary to assess the appropriate place of terrorism in our politics of security, this essay therefore deems it necessary to account for the theoretical approach underlying the forthcoming arguments. Scholars belonging to orthodox terrorism studies have long been striving to agree upon an objective definition of terrorism, what which they consider an indispensable prerequisite for dealing with the issue as such (Ganor, 2002:287). Depending on the author in question, the definition of terrorism can range from including political violence to domestic violence and child abuse (Lum et.al, 2006:11). Though more narrowly defining terrorism can be considered beneficial in terms of making research and strategy development more straight-forward, the inherent value-based notion in such definitions results in it being seemingly impossible to reach consensus. Additionally, the tendency of attempting to reach a definition of terrorism based on single case studies leads orthodox terrorism studies to neglect the historical and contextual processes that can lead to terrorism (Jackson, Gunning & Smyth, 2007:7). This essay seeks to adopt a critical approach so as to place greater focus on which measures states can take in order to avoid the creation of conditions where terrorism can occur. Though one might argue that the term terrorism is

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