The Resurgence of the State Civil Liberties & the Struggle against Terrorism in Comparative Perspective

Terrorism Liberty

The forcefulness of response to the attacks of September 11 in law and policy was not merely an American phenomenon. Around the world we have seen a resurgence of the state, expressed through creation and implementation of antiterrorism legislation and policy in the wake of the September 11 attacks. Of course these reactions have taken different forms in various countries, but in many countries they share a basic characteristic: the state is reasserting itself, extending the reach of its powers in the name of national security and antiterrorism, and provoking varieties of opposition. Governmental responses have often been more pronounced—and perhaps more justified—in nations in which terrorist attacks of various kinds are a continuing issue rather than a new problem.