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In the wake of September 11, the United States waged a War on Terror. More than an armed conflict, this “war” is a narrative that enables the mobilization of resources to fight terrorism. However, because this narrative constructs a social representation of the threat rather than providing a clear definition, the resulting policies are ineffective or even counterproductive. The War on Terror feeds terrorist propaganda and overextends U.S. resources. Fifteen years on, the threat of terrorism has not been eradicated, it has in fact grown. It is imperative that we break free from the of the War on Terror paradigm, in order to reconceive strategies to fight against political violence.