This volume investigates the discursive construction of terrorism and the political practices that emerge from these definitions. The editors, Bob Brecher, Mark Devenney, and Aaron Winter, assemble a collection of scholarly essays that examine how the label of 'terrorist' is applied to justify state violence and restrict civil liberties. By analyzing the intersection of political theory and contemporary security policy, the authors argue that the prevailing rhetoric surrounding terror often obscures the underlying power dynamics of the modern state.

Scholars in the field of critical security studies frequently cite this text for its rigorous interrogation of state power and political rhetoric. The prose is noted for its academic density, making it a valuable resource for researchers and advanced students interested in the sociology of conflict.