Navigation menu

University of Kent sociologist suggests a way to diminish the impact of terrorist threats

In a forthcoming address to Europe's leading foreign policy think-tank, Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent, is to suggest that by changing the way we engage with terrorism we can diminish the impact of its threat.

Professor Furedi's address, which takes place at Chatham House (formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs), London, on Thursday 10 January, will also argue that what we really need to worry about is not what terrorism does to Western society but Western society's reaction to terrorism.

His address will be followed by a reception to mark the launch of his latest book, Invitation To Terror: The Expanding Empire of the Unknown (Continuum Press).

Professor Furedi says: 'Unlike in previous wars and conflicts, today our sense of terror precedes and extends beyond acts of terrorism. Official reaction is driven by a narrative of fear that invites us to regard terrorism as incomprehensible, senseless and beyond meaning. Such a response based on confusion authorises acts of speculation and fantasy as legitimate forms of threat assessment. This dramatisation of security transmits a sense of helplessness that inadvertently offers society's enemies an invitation to terrorise. The good news is that it is not very difficult to diminish the impact of this threat through changing the way we engage with it.'

Contact: mediaoffice@kent.ac.uk

Story published at 1:42pm 3 January 2008