CIAO DATE: 06/2009
October 2008
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Since 9/11, the terrorist is often awarded the position of the radical Other of Danish identity; the personified existential threat to Denmark (not primarily as a state but as a society). The strategy of the Danish government to counter terrorism describes itself as covering a ‘broad spectrum’ of efforts. It includes an ‘active foreign policy’ in relation to the Muslim world and an ‘active integration policy’ in relation to Muslim migrants. Both inside and outside the nation state efforts range from ‘hard power’ security strategies of elimination and control involving military, police, and intelligence operations to ‘soft power’ strategies of information, partnerships, and dialogue. The paper analyses Danish counterterrorism policies to identify the concepts of dialogue implied and the positions awarded to less-than-radical Muslim Others. The paper concludes that Muslims might in counterterrorism dialogue find a position for talking back – even if it is still a position circumscribed by control and securitization.
Resource link: It takes two to Tango. Danish concepts of dialogue as counterterrorism [PDF] - 677K