Introduction: like finding a needle in a pile of needles: political violence and the perils of a brave new digital world

Abstract

A critical framework for the analysis of political violence, terrorism and social movements must be based around a data-driven, empirical examination of primary source data. In an era of data overabundance, possible sources for analysis are all around us, from anonymous communiqués issued by social movements to slick propaganda videos issued by military-styled insurgent and guerrilla movements. The problem is no longer “Where do I find data?” but has now become “Through what metric can I measure reliability?” A critically situated analysis of violence must take into account the intentional manipulation of facts which is standard practice by both state and non-state actors. If one can acknowledge that both governments and Foreign Terrorist Organizations attempt to shape public opinion through selective reporting and misrepresentation, the study of political violence through the venue of discourse is appropriate. Therefore, discourse is a fitting site for critical engagement, as it is based around subjective reality and its construction, and not the establishment of authorship and “truth.”