Cover of Image Warfare in the War on Terror

Book 2013

Image Warfare in the War on Terror

Publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
Language
English
Published
2013
  • Imagery (psychology)
  • Terrorism and mass media
  • Social aspects
  • Internet and terrorism
  • International relations
  • Media studies
  • POLITICAL SCIENCE
  • Political Freedom & Security

This book provides an innovative re-examination of the war on terror. It argues that since 11 September 2001 image warfare has replaced techno-war as the dominant warfighting model. The author suggests that it is a form of warfare in which Al Qaeda currently dominates while the West is still playing catch-up. By dealing frankly with the deployment of disturbing images generated by the 9/11 attacks -- from bin Laden videos, suicide terrorism and hostage executions to prisoner abuses, he provides us with a new vocabulary through which these acts can be discussed and understood. This book offers the first comprehensive assessment, from an International Relations perspective, of image warfare. Through engagement with IR, Media Studies and Visual Culture literatures, the author introduces three new conceptual terms 'image munitions', 'counter-image munitions' and 'remediation battles'.