Political Theory of Terrorism:

The Political and “Absolute Enemies”

Abstract

  Amid the nonviolent political systems that have developed in the modern era, terrorism is a rare political phenomenon because its violence is not restricted by laws or rules. Researchers studying terrorism usually analyze it using empirical case studies or statistical methodologies, but they rarely examine the phenomenon from the perspective of political theories. This article attempts to conceptualize “terrorism” more clearly using the political theories of Carl Schmitt, Ernesto Laclau, and Chantal Mouffe. First, it outlines how researchers cannot define or conceptualize “terrorism”. Second, it applies Schmitt’s friend-enemy theory and typology of enemies to conceptualize “terrorism”. Using Schmitt’s perspective, “terrorism” can be conceptualized as the ultimate manifestation of the political against “absolute enemies.” Next, this article redefines the political in a social constructivist sense using Laclau and Mouffe’s concept of antagonisms and discourse theory. Finally, the insights and implications of this article are presented through an analysis of global jihad.