Terrorism, Epistemology, Critical Terrorism Studies, Critical Theory, Poststructuralism
This chapter explicates the dynamic between ‘orthodox’ and ‘critical’ approaches to terrorism via a marked focus on epistemology—that is, how terrorism is known. It begins with a brief overview of ‘orthodox’ knowledges on terrorism and the silences that such knowledges create. This is followed by an interrogation of Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS) as i) an accommodating space for the articulation of a range of critical epistemologies; and ii) as a project dedicated to a loose notion of emancipatory progress. It ultimately argues that while CTS provides an ideal platform from which to articulate a range of ‘critical’ approaches to understanding terrorism, it is yet to fully engage with ‘poststructuralist’ analyses, which may further enrich the field. It concludes with a brief comment on the need to encourage and facilitate critical epistemologies of terrorism in a security milieu increasingly defined by the constriction of radical thought.