The European Union's fight against terrorism - Discourse, policies, identity

This book examines the language of the European Union's response to the threat of terrorism. Since its re-emergence in the wake of the September 11 attacks, the 'fight against terrorism' has come to represent a priority area of action for the EU. Drawing on interpretive approaches to international relations, the book outlines a discourse theory of identity and counter-terrorism policy, showing how the 'fight against terrorism' structures the EU's response through the prism of identity, drawing our attention to the various 'others' that have come to form the target of counter-terrorism policy. Through an extensive analysis of the wider societal impact of the 'fight against terrorism' discourse, the various ways in which this policy is contributing to the 'securitisation' of social and political life within Europe are revealed.

Introduction: the language of the European Union's 'fight against terrorism' 1. Investigating the language of EU counter-terrorism: analytical techniques 2. Constructing the threat of terrorism in Western Europe and the European Union: a genealogy 3. Constructing the 'Terrorist' other: a 'new' and 'evolving' threat to the European Union 4. Constructing the 'Migrant' other: globalisation, securitisation and control 5. Constructing the 'Muslim' other: preventing 'radicalisation', 'violent extremism' and 'terrorism' Conclusion: the 'fight against terrorism' discourse and the EU's emerging role as a holistic security actor Index