1st Edition
Power, Discourse and Victimage Ritual in the War on Terror
By Michael Blain
Copyright 2012
176 Pages
by
Routledge
176 Pages
by
Routledge
176 Pages
by
Routledge
Also available as eBook on:
Blending concepts from 'dramatism' such as 'victimage ritual' with Foucault's approach to modern power and knowledge regimes, this book presents a novel and illuminating perspective on political power and domination resulting from the global war on terrorism. With attention to media sources and political discourse within the context of the global war on terror, the author draws attention to the... Read more
Chapter 1 Cycles of Violence; Chapter 2 Genealogy of Terrorism; Chapter 3 Victimage Ritual; Chapter 4 War on Terrorism; Chapter 5 Dangers of Security;
Biography
Michael Blain is Professor of Sociology at Boise State University, USA, and author of The Politics of Death and The Sociology Terrorism.
’Blain offers a methodical rhetorical analysis of historical and contemporary American elite political and news discourse on terrorism. He combines this with wide-ranging sociological and cultural perspectives to reflect critically on the discursive power effects of the US-led War on Terror (2001-). This produces important insights on how this War, despite surface appearances, is a strategy for mobilizing and justifying American political violence.’ Vian Bakir, Bangor University, UK 'Michael Blain’s book offers new insight into the ritual rhetoric and political violence evident in the war on terror discourse. Combining the concepts of ’dramatism’ and ’victimage ritual’ with Foucault’s approach to power relations and knowledge, Blain’s account offers an interesting analysis of the way in which American political violence since 9/11 has been justified through the war on terror discourse. ... Power, Discourse and Victimage Ritual in the War on Terror adds new interpretations of the global war on terrorism, by merging Burke’s dramatism and victimage rituals with more current thinking on the relationship between politics and violence.This book can be recommended to those interested in the role of discourse in politics and more specifically the war on terror, state control and surveillance as well as US foreign policy and hegemony.' Political Studies Review
