Legitimacy as a target: international law and the 'War on Terror'

Abstract

An essential dimension of political struggle will inevitably revolve around the 'power to command' and the 'will to obey' since how these are established and exercised remain a central question for every society. Yet, while command can be targeted and destroyed with dominant strength, obedience is more elusive because it is up to each citizen to exercise. As such, compliance is an element that cannot always be easily explained through a conventional prism of force. This can also explain how access to more powerful weaponry has faded as the deciding factor in the outcome of a struggle. This work will examine and posit how the strategic goals of those who employ terrorism might actually be achieved since they certainly are not employing overpowering conventional force. To do so, we will investigate the legality, morality and efficacy of the ‘war on terror' with international law as the framework.