Prevent, Ideology and Ideological State Apparatus: Analysing Terrorism Prevention Policies Using Althusser’s Framework
| Author | Joshua Skoczylis,Sam Andrews |
| DOI | 10.1177/03058298211063929 |
| Published date | 01 January 2022 |
| Date | 01 January 2022 |
| Subject Matter | Original Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/03058298211063929
Millennium: Journal of
International Studies
2022, Vol. 50(2) 405 –429
© The Author(s) 2022
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/03058298211063929
journals.sagepub.com/home/mil
Prevent, Ideology and
Ideological State Apparatus:
Analysing Terrorism
Prevention Policies Using
Althusser’s Framework
Sam Andrews and Joshua Skoczylis
University of Lincoln, UK
Abstract
The work of Louis Althusser is well regarded in the study of ideology, having been used to analyse
the material basis for ideology, and challenging the idea that ideology is simply a product of the mind.
Recent advances in counterterrorism have seen many states adopting preventative programmes
which are non-violent, and nominally voluntary, attempting to deradicalise or steer subjects away
from radical ideologies, in an attempt to stem terrorist recruits. Many of these programmes claim
not to be ideological. Prevent, which is the UK’s preventative counterterrorism programme,
claims not to be ideological, but rather only concerned with stopping extremist ideologies. Using
Althusser’s Ideological State Apparatus (ISA) framework, this article explores the ideological and
material basis of Prevent, arguing that while Prevent assures us of its non-ideological nature, at its
core is a programme that is part of the reproductive ideological apparatus of the state.
Keywords
prevent, counterterrorism, ideology, United Kingdom, Althusser
Prevent, idéologie et appareils idéologiques d’État : analyser les politiques
de prévention du terrorisme à travers le cadre althussérien
Les travaux de Louis Althusser tiennent une place importante dans l’étude de l’idéologie. Ils ont
été utilisés pour analyser les fondements matériels de l’idéologie et remettent en question l’idée
selon laquelle l’idéologie est un simple produit de l’esprit. Dans le cadre de la lutte contre le
terrorisme, de nombreux États ont récemment adopté des programmes préventifs non violents,
officiellement basés sur le volontariat, visant à déradicaliser les sujets ou à les détourner des
idéologies radicales, afin d’enrayer le recrutement des terroristes. La plupart de ces programmes
Corresponding author:
Sam Andrews, University of Lincoln, Brayford Way, Lincoln, LN6 7TS, UK.
Email: samandrews@lincoln.ac.uk
1063929MIL0010.1177/03058298211063929Millennium – Journal of International StudiesAndrews and Skoczylis
research-article2022
Original Article
406 Millennium: Journal of International Studies 50(2)
sont présentés comme non idéologiques. Prevent, le programme préventif de lutte contre le
terrorisme du Royaume-Uni ne serait donc pas idéologique et aurait pour seul objet de mettre fin
aux idéologies extrémistes. À partir de l’analyse althussérienne des appareils idéologiques d’État
(AIE), cet article étudie les fondements idéologiques et matériels de Prevent. Si l’on nous assure
de la nature non idéologique de Prevent, cet article montre que le programme qui réside au cœur
du dispositif appartient aux appareils idéologiques reproducteurs de l’État.
Mots-clés
terrorisme, idéologie, Althusser
Prevent, ideología y aparatos ideológicos del Estado: Analizar la política de
prevención del terrorismo a través del marco teórico de Althusser
La obra de Louis Althusser está bien considerada en el estudio de la ideología, y ha sido utilizada
para analizar el fundamento material de la ideología y poner en cuestión la idea de que la ideología
es un mero producto de la mente. Con los recientes avances en contraterrorismo muchos países
han adoptado programas preventivos de carácter no violento y supuestamente voluntarios con
el propósito de desradicalizar a los sujetos o alejarlos de las ideologías radicales, en un intento
por frenar los reclutamientos terroristas. Muchos de estos programas se presentan a sí mismos
como no ideológicos. Prevent, el programa de prevención del terrorismo del Reino Unido, dice
así no ser ideológico, sino orientado más bien a frenar las ideologías extremistas. Recurriendo al
marco de los aparatos ideológicos del Estado de Althusser, este artículo analiza los fundamentos
ideológicos y materiales del programa Prevent, argumentando que, a pesar de que Prevent nos
asegura que no tiene carácter ideológico, es en sí un programa que forma parte del aparato
ideológico reproductivo del Estado.
Palabras clave
terrorismo, ideología, Althusser
Introduction
Counterterrorism laws and policies in the UK have become mainstreamed and consist-
ently frame ideology as inherently violent and causal in terrorist action.1 However, the
debate about the role of ideology has been one-sided. The ideologies of extremists and
terrorists are well explored and are commonly linked to a negative political and cultural
milieu.2 This is reproduced at the elite and policy level. Yet there is little acknowledge-
ment that counterterrorism policies themselves are driven by the ideologies of the incum-
bent elites. As Faller points out, ideology forms part of every culture and is actively
concerned with the establishment and defence of patterns of beliefs and values. The state
plays a key role in their reproduction.3
1. Jessie Blackbourn, Fiona De Londras, and Lydia Morgan, Accountability and Review in the
Counter-Terrorist State (Bristol: Bristol University Press, 2020).
2. Richard Jackson, ‘The Political Necessity of Terrorism’, in BISA Annual Conference 2007
(British International Studies Association, Cambridge, 2007). Available at: https://www.
aber.ac.uk/en/media/departmental/interpol/csrv/political-necessity-of-terrorism-richard-4.
pdf. Last accessed December 7, 2021.
3. Lloyd Fallers, ‘Ideology and Culture in Uganda Nationalism’, American Anthropologist 63,
no. 4 (1961): 678–79. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1961.63.4.02a00010.
To continue reading
Request your trial