The archetype of terrorism: How 11/9 changed the world?.

Resumen

This article offers a theoretical reflection on contemporary terrorism in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks, challenging conventional definitions that reduce terrorism to mere acts of violence. The author argues that terrorism should be understood as a symbolic and communicative phenomenon closely linked to advanced capitalism, technomeritocracy, and mass media. Through a critical analysis of the works of Geoffrey Skoll, Jean Baudrillard, Graham Fuller, and Luke Howie, the study maintains that terrorism depends more on media visibility and the social production of fear than on the physical extermination of its victims. In this framework, the figure of the witness becomes central, as the effectiveness of terrorism lies in the terror experienced by distant observers who consume the event through media representations. The article also questions the simplistic association between terrorism and Islam, showing that contemporary conflicts are better explained by historical, economic, and geopolitical dynamics rather than religious factors. Furthermore, it examines how democratic states manipulate fear to legitimize control policies, restrictions on civil liberties, and military expansion. The article concludes that modern terrorism is inseparable from market logic, the spectacularization of violence, and the economy of fear, requiring a critical reassessment of its causes and consequences in global society.