Terror and Modernity

Donatella Di Cesare's book argues that terrorism is not a new phenomenon but rather one that has always been a key part of modernity. She argues that the growing concentration of power in the hands of the state sows the seeds of terrorism, which is deployed as a weapon by those who feel exposed to the violence of the state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 10 May 2019
Publisher: Polity Press

We tend to perceive terrorist attacks as an anomaly, a violent intrusion into our lives that has no inherent connection to the essential characteristics of modern societies. However, does this perspective distort the relationship between terror and modernity? In this book, philosopher Donatella Di Cesare adopts a historical perspective and contends that terror has always been a fundamental aspect of modernity. At its core, terrorism revolves around the quest for power and sovereignty. The increasing concentration of power in the hands of the state, a defining characteristic of modern societies, nurtures the conditions for terrorism, which is then wielded as a weapon by those who endure the violence of the state and perceive no alternative recourse.

Di Cesare elucidates her argument through a range of examples, spanning from the Red Brigades and 9/11 to jihadism and ISIS. Her nuanced analysis will captivate anyone seeking a deeper understanding of contemporary terrorism, as well as students and scholars of philosophy and political theory.

Weight: 236g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 12 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509531493