Citation

Senn M, Troy J. Contemp. Secur. Policy 2017; 38(2): 175-211.

Affiliation

The Europe Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13523260.2017.1336604

PMID

29097903

PMCID

PMC5632895

Abstract

This article introduces the special issue's question of whether and how the current transformation of targeted killing is transforming the global international order and provides the conceptual ground for the individual contributions to the special issue. It develops a two-dimensional concept of political order and introduces a theoretical framework that conceives the maintenance and transformation of international order as a dynamic interplay between its behavioral dimension in the form of violence and discursive processes and its institutional dimension in the form of ideas, norms, and rules. The article also conceptualizes targeted killing and introduces a typology of targeted-killing acts on the basis of their legal and moral legitimacy. Building on this conceptual groundwork, the article takes stock of the current transformation of targeted killing and summarizes the individual contributions to this special issue.

Language: en

Keywords

Targeted killing; assassination; drones; international law; international order; legitimacy; morality