Rethinking Terrorism Studies — Lee Jarvis

18. 7. 2024

This episode of The IR thinker explores Critical Terrorism Studies with Professor Lee Jarvis, examining how the field interrogates power relations, knowledge production and ethical responsibility in research on political violence. The conversation contrasts CTS with more traditional approaches, looks at media representations, state practices and technological change, and highlights how CTS can be used to study radicalisation, non state actors and security policy.

Lee Jarvis

Lee Jarvis is Professor of International Politics at Loughborough University, England. His research focuses on how security challenges such as terrorism, radicalisation, cyber threats and pandemics are constructed and communicated, with particular attention to counter terrorism politics, critical security studies and social memories of terrorism. He has published widely on these themes and serves as co editor of the journal Critical Studies on Terrorism.

Publications:

Three waves of critical terrorism studies: agenda-setting, elaboration, problematisation

The Proscription or Listing of Terrorist Organisations: Understanding, Assessment, and International Comparisons

Toward a Vernacular Security Studies: Origins, Interlocutors, Contributions, and Challenges

Critical terrorism studies and the far-right: beyond problems and solutions?

Content

00:00 - Introduction
02:08 - Overview of Critical Terrorism Studies (CTS) and Its Main Objectives
04:18 - Defining ‘Critical’ in Critical Terrorism Studies
06:50 - Conceptualising Terrorism in CTS
10:05 - Comparison: Traditional Terrorism Studies vs. Critical Terrorism Studies
11:38 - Examining the Role of Power in CTS
14:10 - Emphasis on Reflexivity in CTS
16:57 - Notable Shortcomings and Criticisms of CTS
19:20 - Expanding CTS Beyond Western Scholarship
21:29 - Focus on Non-State Actors in CTS
27:09 - Media Representation of Terrorism in CTS
32:26 - Ethical Considerations in CTS Research
35:00 - State Practices and Their Impact in CTS
39:53 - Balancing Human Rights and National Security in CTS
43:41 - The Influence of Technological Developments on CTS
48:21 - Embracing an Interdisciplinary Approach in CTS
51:48 - Addressing Biases in Traditional Terrorism Studies Through CTS
54:02 - CTS Analytical Framework for Studying Radicalisation
57:48 - Utilising Prediction Analysis in CTS
01:01:00 - Debunking Myths Associated with CTS
01:03:23 - Potential Research Areas Using CTS Perspectives