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'Babies and Bathwaters: Reflecting on the Pitfalls of Critical Terrorism Studies'

Gunning, Jeroen

Authors

Jeroen Gunning



Abstract

This paper examines some of the key challenges critical terrorism studies will have to face. Starting from the premise that a critical turn must both challenge traditional approaches to 'terrorism' and provide an umbrella under which traditional and critical perspectives from 'terrorism studies' and cognate fields can converge, the article reflects on the tensions this will introduce, ranging from how to define the boundaries of a critical field and whether to adopt the term 'terrorism' as a field delineator, to the need for policy-relevance and the tensions this introduces between striving to influence policy and avoiding co-optation. The paper ends with a reflection on the challenge of being sensitive to cultural and contextual differences while remaining true to one's emancipatory agenda.

Citation

Gunning, J. (2007). 'Babies and Bathwaters: Reflecting on the Pitfalls of Critical Terrorism Studies'. European Political Science, 6(3), 236-243. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.eps.2210144

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Sep 1, 2007
Deposit Date Aug 2, 2010
Journal European Political Science
Print ISSN 1680-4333
Electronic ISSN 1682-0983
Publisher Palgrave Macmillan
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 6
Issue 3
Pages 236-243
DOI https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.eps.2210144
Keywords Critical terrorism studies, Cognate fields, Emancipation, Funding, Human security, Culture.

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