Zeng Xianghong Chen Kerui

Abstract：After the September 11 incident, international anti-terrorism efforts seem to have been stuck in a vicious circle of “the more you fight terrorism, the more they thrive.” This phenomenon is closely related to people’s mentality of “the more you talk about terrorism, the more terrifying it seems to be,” which could be attributed to the existence and widespread use of metaphors. In counter-terrorism governance, terrorism-related metaphors, as an essential way of thinking, can be enlightening, but it may also limit people’s thoughts and behaviors in regard to terrorism owing to its randomness and highlighted (as well as hidden) features. When it comes to terrorism-related politics, media and academic discourses in the United States, dominant metaphors are “the fight against terrorism is a war,” “terrorism is something barbaric,” “terrorism is a disease,” and “terrorism is an undesirable plant.” These metaphors are deeply rooted in historical practices, people’s fears, social systems and public opinions, and to a large extent represent people’s orthodox views on terrorism. Although the metaphorical analysis and the use of multiple metaphors cannot eliminate the metaphorical trap, they can at least help alleviate it to a certain extent. Therefore, in the process of counter-terrorism governance, it is of paramount importance to adhere to a stance with the dominant metaphorical expressions of “terrorism is a crime,” flexibly employ various measures, rebuild the damaged political order, and reduce harms to innocent civilians and discriminations against Muslims.