Terrorists perform terrible acts. They maim, mutilate and kill in pursuit of their goals. The horrifying events of 9/11 and the regular suicide bombings around the world have made terrorism one of the central preoccupations of the twenty-first century. But what is the distinctive wrong of terrorism? Criminal acts such as murder and hijacking are already on the moral statute books, so why is it that we regard terrorists as different from and morally worse than ordinary killers and kidnappers? Some see terrorism is an ideology, others claim it is a deep-seated social or psychological failing, others that it is a form of fighting unfairly judged by just-war standards. In this provocative new book, Robert Goodin puts forward the view that terrorism is, in fact, a deliberate tactic of frightening people for socio-political gain. Fear affects peoples ability to reason clearly and undermines their capacity for autonomous self-government. In this way, Goodin contends that terror is not only the weapon of organizations such as al-Qaeda; it also benefits democratic politicians who profit from the climate of insecurity induced by terrorist threats and violence. Political figures conducting a campaign of fear as part of their war on terrorism may therefore be committing wrongs akin to those of terrorists themselves. This, Goodin argues, is what is distinctively wrong with terrorism in the contemporary world.

Terrorists perform terrible acts. They maim, mutilate and kill inpursuit of their goals. The horrifying events of 9/11 and theregular suicide bombings around the world have made terrorism oneof the central preoccupations of the twenty-first century. But whatis the distinctive wrong of terrorism? Criminal acts such as murderand hijacking are already on the moral statute books, so why is itthat we regard terrorists as different from and morally worse thanordinary killers and kidnappers?Some see terrorism is an ideology, others claim it is adeep-seated social or psychological failing, others that it is aform of fighting unfairly judged by just-war standards. In thisprovocative new book, Robert Goodin puts forward the view thatterrorism is, in fact, a deliberate tactic of frightening peoplefor socio-political gain. Fear affects peoples ability to reasonclearly and undermines their capacity for autonomousself-government.In this way, Goodin contends that terror is not only the weaponof organizations such as al-Qaeda; it also benefits democraticpoliticians who profit from the climate of insecurity induced byterrorist threats and violence. Political figures conducting acampaign of fear as part of their war on terrorism may therefore becommitting wrongs akin to those of terrorists themselves. ThisGoodin argues, is what is distinctively wrong with terrorism in thecontemporary world.

Preface viiAcknowledgements x1 Introduction 12 Terrorism as Unjust War: Killing Innocent Civilians6Three problems with the just-war analysis of terrorism 9A different sense of 'innocence' 18War crime, ordinary crime or a special offence? 213 Terrorism as a Political Tactic: Intending to Instil Fear31What sort of 'ism' is terrorism? 32What terrorists want 35Fear is the key 45Summing up 484 States Can Be Terrorists, Too 50The definitional ploy 53States terrorizing other states 60States terrorizing their own people 66State-sponsored terror and crimes of complicity 735 Warnings Can Be Terroristic, Too: Profiting Politicallyfrom Fear 78Threats and warnings 80Impure warnings: 'terrorist warnings' versus'warnings of terrorism' 85Politicians' intentions matter, too 91Terrorism as an aggravated wrong: is 'violence'required? 100Better 'terrorist warnings' than none at all?1086 Warnings Bound to Be Misheard 111How big a deal is terrorism? 114Calibrating risks 118Mechanisms of misperception 123Mass-mediated terror 131Risks of really mass destruction 136Imprudent precautions 1427 Terrorizing Democracy 156Terrorism as a political wrong 156Fearlessness as a response 159Hobbesian solutions to non-Hobbesian problems 170Of tyrants and terrorists 1768 Conclusions 179Notes 187References 218Index 238