?
Technology, Justice and the Return of Humanitarian Terrorism
What I call “humanitarian terrorism” is a terrorism of self-proclaimed humanitarian goals and self-imposed constraints on means. The course of this terrorism is ardently just and the means are limited to targeted killings of culpable individuals. This terrorism is the product of the enlightenment; it has emerged by the end of the 18th century and has passed through at least three paradigmatic stages of development. The first is the classical state terrorism of the Jacobins of 1793-1794. The second is Russian individual terrorism of the end of 19th early 20th century. The third is the contemporary American killer drones campaign. In terms of the just war theory this terrorism is morally superior not only to ordinary straightforward terrorism of indiscriminate attacks on civilians, but also to ordinary war. The terrorists kill the few culpable, if at all, and terrorize many. But humanitarian terrorism is not only the summit of just war; it is also the summit of absolute war. The linchpin of humanitarian terrorism is personal enmity, which invariably paves the way to absolute war. Although, absolute enmity may be explained and justified, it hinders the conclusion of peace. Besides, hateful spite stemming from absolute hostility is casting its own image of justice, which in its turn perpetuates war. The vicious circle is thus forged. The logic of just war inevitably drives in the direction of humanitarian terrorism. Humanitarian terrorism drags in the quagmire of absolute enmity. Absolute enmity proclaims just cause for war.