Neomedievalism, neoconservatism, and the war on terror

This book explores how medievalism became a key framework for understanding America's perceived enemies in the War on Terror. Bruce Holsinger argues that this rhetoric obscures the deeper ideological workings of neomedievalism, the global language of non-state actors like NGOs, corporate militias, and terrorist groups. He examines how International Relations theorists use neomedievalism to understand global sovereignty, while neoconservatives exploit its ambiguity for tactical gains. Holsinger concludes by analyzing the Bush administration's Torture Memos, revealing how they used neomedievalism's model of feudal sovereignty to justify human rights abrogations.