Święty terror

After the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001, the phrase "war on terror" became a key element of international diplomatic language. This term not only refers to efforts to counteract terrorist activities but also often serves as a convenient rationale for military interventions across the globe. What, then, truly defines terrorism? Is it indeed a foreign menace represented by Islamic fundamentalists, or is it a construct used by politicians to justify their actions? In his book, Terry Eagleton illustrates that the Afghan Taliban, who carry out attacks in the name of Allah, is just one expression of the terror that is deeply embedded in Western culture as well. This book explores the origins of modern terrorism, tracing its lineage from ancient rituals and medieval theology to the eighteenth-century notions of sublimity and Freudian subconscious dynamics.