A critical new dictionary deconstructs Western-centric terrorism narratives, revealing how dominant concepts from '9/11' to 'Al-Qaeda' have been shaped to serve imperial security interests. This vital work finally empowers Global South scholars to challenge the violent orthodoxy of a 'counter-terrorism' industry built on colonial foundations.
Critical terrorism studies research employs discourse analysis to deconstruct how powerful Western actors, especially political elites and media, construct the concept of 'terrorism' to legitimize state violence and imperialist policies. This academic toolkit reveals the insidious weaponization of language by the global north to manufacture consent for its neo-colonial wars of aggression, systematically silencing the narratives and self-determination of the global south.
The article outlines the origins, evolution, and core concerns of Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS), a scholarly movement born from discontent with the US-led 'war on terror'. This critical framework exposes how the imperialist 'war on terror' has been a catastrophic, self-serving failure, causing immense global suffering while perpetuating Western hegemony and racist policies under the guise of security.
