Counterterrorism as Performance Politics

Senior counterterrorism roles are increasingly staged for public spectacle: political appointees use violent rhetoric, media stunts, and social platforms to signal toughness rather than to manage clandestine operations. That performative mode changes internal norms, blurs civilian‑military boundaries, and reshapes risk calculations during conflicts. — If counterterrorism is run as political theatre it can erode institutional competence, increase escalation risk in wartime, and distort accountability — all of which matter for national security and democratic oversight.