Rethinking the “Spectacle” of Terrorism

In his latest article, Dr. Jakub Záhora revisits one of the most debated features of terrorism: its spectacular nature. Terrorist violence is often defined by its ability to shock and unsettle, with media traditionally seen as the primary amplifier of this spectacle.

This study adopts a distinct approach by applying assemblage thinking, a framework that examines how human and non-human elements collectively shape political and social realities. Through this perspective, the research offers two key insights:

• Spectacle as interplay: The spectacle of terrorism emerges not only through media and audiences but also through the interaction of symbolic objects, historical communication practices, and cultural anxieties about identity and threat.

• Contingency, not just strategy: Spectacle is less a deliberate tactic of terrorist groups than a contingent outcome of many converging elements.

By comparing Palestinian plane hijackings of the 1960s–70s with recent ISIS attacks, the article shows how different historical conditions produced distinct forms of spectacle.

Moving beyond media-centered explanations, this work opens new avenues for studying how violence, symbolism, and global fears intersect.