3 - Ever-Expanding Transnational Counter-Terrorism

Summary

This chapter problematises the expansion of transnational counter-terrorism, demonstrating that transnational counter-terrorism was set up with such expansion in its sights, and – most importantly – that the expansion has not ended yet. It uses the examples of borders, preventing/countering violent extremism (P/CVE), and internet regulation to illustrate the reach and effects of expansionism. Finally, it draws attention to growing tendency at transnational level to present counter-terrorism as a mode of human rights protection and fulfilment, with significant consequences for the possible future extension of counter-terrorism into human rights. The chapter shows that transnational counter-terrorism sprawl is partly a self-perpetuating technique; its sprawl at once suggests the severity and scale of the problem of ‘terrorism’ and empowers and expands the transnational counter-terrorism order itself. It tends towards establishing the indispensability of transnational counter-terrorism and, thus, towards securing its future as a powerful mode of transnational governance.