Democracy and the War on Terror: Civil Liberties and the Fight Against Terrorism (Cass Series on Political Violence)

This volume's focus is on the relationship(s) between democratic government, open societies and political terrorism. It begins with the statement of a paradox. A cornerstone of current American foreign policy is the 'war on terrorism'. The present Bush administration and its potential successors regard the defeat of international terrorist organizations, al Qaeda most obviously, to be its highest priority. How is success to be achieved? Beyond the use of force, American decision-makers have said repeatedly that the promotion of democracy and the spread of freedom to parts of the world lacking these qualities will undercut support for terrorism. The American presence in Afghanistan and Iraq is frequently explained in these terms. But there is a paradox here worth contemplating. At the same time the foreign policy aim is to spread democracy in order to inoculate countries against terrorism, at home the Administration has proposed and the US Congress has usually supported measures to enhance the ability of law enforcement agencies to maintain surveillance over the activities of private citizens. In other words, the achievement of greater 'homeland security' within the United States seems to require imposing restrictions on the very democratic values the Administration seeks to promote abroad. The balance of the book explores the linkages between democracy and terrorism and responds to the question: does democracy deter terrorism or does it facilitate its growth?This book will be of much interest to students of political science, terrorism and security studies.Weinberg, Leonard is the author of 'Democracy and the War on Terror: Civil Liberties and the Fight Against Terrorism (Cass Series on Political Violence)', published 2008 under ISBN 9780415770347 and ISBN 0415770343.