Terror and patriotism in the United States: A critical analysis of governmental discourses surrounding the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the introduction of the Patriot Act in the United States of America

Abstract

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in the United States of America represented a pivotal historical moment that divided history into two distinct categories: a pre-9/11 period of relative security and a post-9/11 period of death and insecurity in which the threat of future terrorist attacks was presented as certain and ongoing. In the aftermath of the attacks, the American government prioritized national security over all other aspects of everyday life, including individual civil rights and freedoms. This prioritization necessitated and later justified the introduction of a potentially invasive anti-terrorism legislation, passed through an abridged legislative process. This thesis analyzes the official discourse in the six week period between the 9/11 attacks and the enactment of the Patriot Act. The research focuses on various discursive strands and narratives surrounding the attacks and on justifications and arguments related to the anti-terrorism measures proposed. The explored discursive themes include patriotism, national and international unity, populism versus prudentialism, war/crime models of terrorism and 'us versus them' rhetoric. The thesis shows the complex nature of the discourses involved and different roles played by various political actors and branches of government. The interpretation of findings is informed by current literature on discursive construction of risk, security, terrorism and ethical justifications of trade-offs between security and liberties.