Published in: Critical Studies on Terrorism, vol. 4 (2), pp. 163-180 The political importance of labelling: terrorism and Turkey’s discourse on the PKK André Barrinha, Visiting Assistant Professor in International Relations, University of Coimbra abarrinha@fe.uc.pt Abstract Labelling the ‘other’ is one of the most relevant aspects in an armed conflict context. Summarising what the opponent is in one single expression is a strong rhetorical tool in any belligerent discourse. The usage of the ‘terrorist’ label assumes a particular powerful role in such construction. By labelling an individual or a group as a terrorist places it, the ‘other’, on the border of any political framework. It can be understood as being simultaneously inside and outside that political space. By resorting to Ole Wæver’s layered discursive structure, this article aims to study the discursive practices and the political consequences associated with the use of such label. The political implications of using the ‘terrorist’ label regarding the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Turkish politics will be presented as an illustrative case study. The period under analysis goes from April 2007 until January 2008, corresponding to the escalation of a security discourse that led to the (brief) Turkish military incursion in northern Iraq in the winter of 2007-08. The political exposure and intense usage of the ‘terrorist’ label in this period makes it particularly ripe for the understanding of the political discursive context that shapes Turkey’s policies toward the conflict. The focus on this period should also shed some light on the political reasons underlying the intractability of this conflict. Keywords: Terrorism, Discourse, Turkey, PKK. 1