The Tabloid Terrorist: The Predicative Construction of New Terrorism in the Media

Words matter in terrorism research. Not only do they describe reality, but they actively take part in the construction of the world as we see, talk, hear, imagine and ultimately react to it. The Tabloid Terrorist introduces a constructivist approach to the study of terrorism by examining the discursive constitution of the terrorist in tabloid newspapers. It shows how language in the media affects our perceptions of "terrorists" and how particular constructions of the "terrorist" automatically make certain counter-terrorism policies possible, logical and seemingly appropriate.