Conclusion

The last chapter serves three purposes. First, it summarizes the ACN methodology and reviews problems and limitations of the research. Second, it concludes the research on the case studies by contrasting and connecting developments of the Al Qaeda narrative with that of the ‘intelligence consumer’, the US institutional terrorism narrative, while taking into account the critical perspective of the micro narrative. A special focus lies on identifying the multi-consequentiality of securitization efforts within and across social domains. This focus links the development of the two macro narratives. Third, the contribution of the book to critical security studies and intelligence studies is discussed. For Al Qaeda, the research revises the nature, status, and role of audiences, a central topic of debate among securitization theorists. Furthermore, the book is positioned as a statement in the development of a critical intelligence studies. Interpretative analytic methods that integrally and in parallel consider the development of threats, an intelligence consumer’s strategic narrative and critical micro perspectives, are highly uncommon in intelligence. Such an approach also calls for cooperation and jointness among intelligence analysts, working-level policymakers and relevant trusted outside experts.