ABSTRACT
This chapter examines a key systemic manifestation of the problem of order by focusing on terrorism and counter-terrorism. It builds on M. Foucault's account of contemporary governance, while also examining how states utilize deception to manage risks. The chapter assesses terrorism and counter-terrorism as sites wherein competing deployments of deception are associated with broader struggles for power and identity, and linked these to G. Agamben's and C. Schmitt's focus on the role of the 'exceptional' for sovereign power. The chapter explores through particular examples how both counter-terrorist and terrorist activities can erode the capacity of social relationships and individuals to contribute towards societal order. It focuses on Al Qaeda as a case study given that the counter-terrorist activities taken against this group, by the US and other governments, established an identifiable pattern of action, response and consequences that remains relevant today.
