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Notes on violence: Walter Benjamin's relevance for the study of terrorism
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 10:19 authored by Verena ErlenbuschThis article uses Walter Benjamin's theoretical claims in the ‘Critique of violence’ to shed light on some current conceptualisations of terrorism. It suggests an understanding of terrorism as an essentially contested concept. If the theorist uncritically adopts the state's account of terrorism, she occludes an important dimension of the phenomenon that allows for a rethinking of the state's claim to a monopoly on legitimate violence. Benjamin's essay conceptualises the state as resulting from a conjunction of violence, law, legitimacy and power that rests on mythical ideas about nature and history. It shows why the state claims to be justified in taking exceptional measures when this link is challenged and when its prerogative to the legitimate use of force is called into question. This, I argue, is what terrorism does. Thus, Benjamin's essay adds to a more nuanced and less one-sided understanding of both terrorism and state violence.
History
Publication status
- Published
Journal
Journal of Global EthicsISSN
1744-9626Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
2Volume
6Page range
167-178Department affiliated with
- Politics Publications
Full text available
- No
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2012-02-20Usage metrics
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