The philosophy of terrorism: why blaming victims offers no justification for terrorist attacks

Terrorist attacks are often justified by their perpetrators on the basis that victims are complicit in some policy or action which is worthy of being met with by violence. But how should we view such arguments from a philosophical perspective? Igor Primoratz writes that while terrorists are likely to portray their actions as a morally justified ‘armed struggle’, the indirect contribution of the victims’ acts to the contested policies, insufficiently voluntary character of these acts, and the disproportionate nature of the violence inflicted on victims ensures that we can reject these arguments and legitimately condemn such attacks as ‘terrorism’

Terrorism is almost always morally unjustified, but it may be justified as the only way of preventing a “moral disaster”

Can terrorism ever be morally justified? Igor Primoratz writes on the nature of terrorism and whether it is possible to defend terrorist attacks in isolated cases. He argues that definitions of terrorism cannot be based on the identity of those resorting to it and must therefore be extended to include ‘state terrorism’. He concludes that while terrorism is almost always unjustified from a moral perspective, under specific, extreme conditions, terrorist acts may be defended on account of the “moral disaster” they prevent or stop

Introduction

This book engages with a range of interconnected and highly topical issues of identity, self-determination and secession. It examines the import and implications of ‘identity claims’, and looks into ‘identity politics’ motivated by such claims, which are becoming ever more salient in democratic and culturally and ethnically heterogeneous states. It discusses nationalism as an important component of identity of individuals and groups, and a position that generates claims of self-determination and secession on the part of ethnic and cultural groups. It also examines patriotism, which had been on the wane before the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 and the start of the global ‘war on terrorism’, but has undergone a dramatic revival since. The book offers a typology of patriotism, an assessment of its moral standing, and a critique of the beliefs about the patria it characteristically involves. Also discussed are topics such as the ways a liberal society should treat nonliberal communities within it, the role of heritage and remembrance in national identity, the status of national minorities as an issue of equality, the legality of secession, and arrangements concerning indigenous peoples and intrastate autonomy as an alternative to secession. These are some of the issues to do with identity, individual and collective, in the focus of current debates at the intersection of philosophy and political theory.14 page(s

Identity, self-determination and secession

Engaging with a range of interconnected and highly topical issues of identity, self-determination and secession, this book examines the import and implications of 'identity claims', and looks into 'identity politics' motivated by such claims, which is becoming ever more salient in democratic and culturally and ethnically heterogeneous states. It discusses nationalism as an important component of identity of individuals and groups, and a position that generates claims of self-determination and secession on the part of ethnic and cultural groups. It also examines patriotism, which until recently seemed to be on the wane, but has undergone a dramatic revival after the terrorist attacks in the US on 11 September 2001 and the start of a global 'war on terror'. The book offers a typology of facets of patriotism, an assessment of its moral standing, and a critique of the beliefs about the patria it characteristically involves. Also discussed are topics such as political liberalism vs. 'identity liberalism', the ways a liberal society should treat nonliberal communities within it, the role of heritage and remembrance in national identity, the status of national minorities as an issue of equality, arrangements concerning indigenous peoples and intrastate autonomy as an alternative to secession, and whether secession can be a legal act. The book includes contributions by prominent philosophers and political and legal theorists from Australia, Canada, Israel, and the United States.Introduction/ Igor Primoratz and Aleksandar Pavkovic--Part 1. Identity and Identity Politics: Is 'identity' a danger to democracy? / Daniel Weinstock. Identity claims and identity politics: a limited defence / Margaret Moore. Identity and rational revisability / Geoffrey Brahm Levey--Part 2. Identity, Country and Nation: Nationalism and identity / C.A.J. Coady. Patriotism as bad faith / Simon Keller. Patriotism: worldly and ethical / Igor Primoratz. Memory, identity and obligation / Janna Thompson--Part 3. Self-Determination and Secession: Self-determination, national minorities and the liberal principle of equality / Aleksandar Pavkovic. A principled international legal response to demands for self-determination / Allen Buchanan. Secession: can it be a legal act? / Peter Radan--Index

Introduction

13 page(s

Women, War, and International Law

Zanetti V. Women, War, and International Law. In: Primoratz I, ed. Civilian Immunity in War. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 2007: 217-238

Patriotism : philosophical and political perspectives

Economic and cultural globalization and the worldwide threat of terrorism have contributed to the resurgence of patriotic loyalty in many parts of the world and made the issues it raises highly topical. This collection of new essays by philosophers and political theorists engages with a wide range of conceptual, moral and political questions raised by the current revival of patriotism. It displays both similarities and differences between patriotism and nationalism, and considers the proposal of Habermas and others to disconnect the two. Ideal as a supplementary reader for undergraduate and postgraduate courses in politics/political science especially in political theory, contemporary political ideologies and nationalism and in philosophy for courses on applied ethics and political philosophy.241 page(s