Terror and Consent: the Wars for the Twenty-first Century
Encyclopedia
Terror and Consent: The Wars for the Twenty-First Century is a work by Philip Bobbitt
that calls for a reconceptualization of what he calls "the Wars on Terror
." First published in 2008 by Alfred Knopf
in the U.S. and by the Allen Lane imprint of Penguin
in the U.K., Terror and Consent takes as its point of departure the perspectives Bobbitt developed in The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History
. The book consists of an introduction, three parts, and a conclusion.
Bobbitt argues most ideas about 21st-century terrorism
are mistaken, and that "The wars against terror" comprise efforts against three dangers that threaten the legitimacy of the State
: 1) "global, networked terrorists"; 2) "the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction"; and 3) catastrophes natural and "nonnatural." As a historian, Bobbitt understands the contemporary problem of terrorism as part of "the transition from nation states to market states." According to an argument he developed at length in The Shield of Achilles
, the principle of legitimacy of the market state is "maximization of opportunities for . . . civil society and citizens." It follows that protection of citizens is “the strategic raison d’être of the market state." But despite limited successes, Bobbitt does not believe that the West is winning "the Wars against Terror," in part because of a failure to rethink the relationship of strategy
to law
, two concepts that, in Bobbitt's view, can no longer be analyzed separately.
The book's title derives from two new concepts he develops : States of terror and states of consent. Bobbitt argues that states are increasingly interdependent: "Realism, it seems, is increasingly unrealistic."
, in the New York Times Book Review, called Terror and Consent "a manifesto for a new Atlanticism" and "a reinvention of the dominant role of the trans-Atlantic alliance." Conor Gearty
found behind its "beguiling cosmopolitanism
" traces of American exceptionalism
: "many will balk at the assertion that the 'reason why the United States is not itself a terrorist state even though its warfare brings suffering and destruction to many innocent persons, including civilians, is that it acts within the law.'" Rebecca Seal called Terror and Consent "fascinating" and "extraordinary," and described the book as "a wide-ranging, frequently controversial and always opinionated treatise." Kenneth Anderson
called it "enormous in concept and sweep," and praised its "remarkably rich strategic vision of how concretely to make war against terror, terrorists and violent jihad."
More critically, the influential establishment journal Foreign Affairs
warned that "Some readers will find the notion of a market state more of a caricature than a useful archetype, and scholars of international relations will wish that the book more systematically explored the implications of growing security interdependence for international cooperation."
Philip Bobbitt
Philip Chase Bobbitt is an American author, academic, and public servant who has lectured in the United Kingdom. He is best known for work on military strategy and constitutional law and theory, and as the author of Constitutional Fate: Theory of the Constitution , The Shield of Achilles: War,...
that calls for a reconceptualization of what he calls "the Wars on Terror
War on Terror
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
." First published in 2008 by Alfred Knopf
Alfred Knopf
Alfred Knopf is the name of:*Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. , founder of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., the publishing company*Alfred A. Knopf, Jr. , son of Alfred A. Knopf, Sr.*Alfred A. Knopf or Knopf Publishing Group, subsidiary of Random House...
in the U.S. and by the Allen Lane imprint of Penguin
Penguin Group
The Penguin Group is a trade book publisher, the largest in the world , having overtaken Random House in 2009. The Penguin Group is the name of the incorporated division of parent Pearson PLC that oversees these publishing operations...
in the U.K., Terror and Consent takes as its point of departure the perspectives Bobbitt developed in The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History
The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History
The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History is an historico-philosophical work by Philip Bobbitt. It was first published in 2002 by Alfred Knopf in the US and Penguin in the UK.-Theses:...
. The book consists of an introduction, three parts, and a conclusion.
Bobbitt argues most ideas about 21st-century terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
are mistaken, and that "The wars against terror" comprise efforts against three dangers that threaten the legitimacy of the State
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
: 1) "global, networked terrorists"; 2) "the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction"; and 3) catastrophes natural and "nonnatural." As a historian, Bobbitt understands the contemporary problem of terrorism as part of "the transition from nation states to market states." According to an argument he developed at length in The Shield of Achilles
The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History
The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History is an historico-philosophical work by Philip Bobbitt. It was first published in 2002 by Alfred Knopf in the US and Penguin in the UK.-Theses:...
, the principle of legitimacy of the market state is "maximization of opportunities for . . . civil society and citizens." It follows that protection of citizens is “the strategic raison d’être of the market state." But despite limited successes, Bobbitt does not believe that the West is winning "the Wars against Terror," in part because of a failure to rethink the relationship of strategy
Strategy
Strategy, a word of military origin, refers to a plan of action designed to achieve a particular goal. In military usage strategy is distinct from tactics, which are concerned with the conduct of an engagement, while strategy is concerned with how different engagements are linked...
to law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, two concepts that, in Bobbitt's view, can no longer be analyzed separately.
The book's title derives from two new concepts he develops : States of terror and states of consent. Bobbitt argues that states are increasingly interdependent: "Realism, it seems, is increasingly unrealistic."
Reception
Reviewers have emphasized the sweep and originality of Bobbitt's thinking. Niall FergusonNiall Ferguson
Niall Campbell Douglas Ferguson is a British historian. His specialty is financial and economic history, particularly hyperinflation and the bond markets, as well as the history of colonialism.....
, in the New York Times Book Review, called Terror and Consent "a manifesto for a new Atlanticism" and "a reinvention of the dominant role of the trans-Atlantic alliance." Conor Gearty
Conor Gearty
Conor A. Gearty is the Rausling Professor of Human Rights Law and Director, Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics.-Background:...
found behind its "beguiling cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism
Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. This is contrasted with communitarian and particularistic theories, especially the ideas of patriotism and nationalism...
" traces of American exceptionalism
American exceptionalism
American exceptionalism refers to the theory that the United States is qualitatively different from other countries. In this view, America's exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming "the first new nation," and developing a uniquely American ideology, based on liberty,...
: "many will balk at the assertion that the 'reason why the United States is not itself a terrorist state even though its warfare brings suffering and destruction to many innocent persons, including civilians, is that it acts within the law.'" Rebecca Seal called Terror and Consent "fascinating" and "extraordinary," and described the book as "a wide-ranging, frequently controversial and always opinionated treatise." Kenneth Anderson
Kenneth Anderson (jurist)
Kenneth Anderson is a law professor at Washington College of Law, American University, a research fellow of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, and a blogger....
called it "enormous in concept and sweep," and praised its "remarkably rich strategic vision of how concretely to make war against terror, terrorists and violent jihad."
More critically, the influential establishment journal Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs
Foreign Affairs is an American magazine and website on international relations and U.S. foreign policy published since 1922 by the Council on Foreign Relations six times annually...
warned that "Some readers will find the notion of a market state more of a caricature than a useful archetype, and scholars of international relations will wish that the book more systematically explored the implications of growing security interdependence for international cooperation."