ABSTRACT
YES: The necessity of a critical approach
Christopher Baker-Beal
This part of the chapter argues that as the field of terrorism studies grew in quantity and importance, its quality, direction and focus created the necessity for a more ‘critical’ orientation to terrorism research. After clarifying the paradigmatic distinctiveness of the critical terrorism studies (CTS) approach, the chapter shows how CTS both broadens and deepens our understanding of terrorism, by bringing in new topics, theories and methods, and by unravelling the institutional, ideological and material interests involved in terrorism research, while at the same time including marginalised voices.
NO: Don’t give it the oxygen of publicity
Roger Mac Ginty
This part of the chapter argues that critical terrorism studies (CTS) does not provide a useful addition to the study of terrorism. Instead, the author criticises the contribution of CTS by referring to the assumptions and aims critical scholars have themselves set out, such as the aim of emancipation. It is argued that despite the efforts of CTS scholars, the establishment and the structures of power have remained the same, while state violence continues to remain unchecked. Rather than creating a real debate and opening the field to a multitude of approaches and methods, CTS remains largely contained to its own productions and spaces of dissemination.
