Terrorism and counter-terrorism : ethics and liberal democracy / Seumas Miller.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Miller, Seumas.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terrorism.

Terrorism--Prevention.

Terrorism--Moral and ethical aspects.

Terrorism--Prevention--Moral and ethical aspects.

Physical Description:

viii, 222 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Malden, MA ; Oxford : Blackwell Pub., 2009.

Summary:

Undoubtedly, the events of September 11, 2001 served as a wake-up call to the scourge of global terrorism facing twenty-first century societies. But was the attack on the World Trade Center a crime or an act of war? Is seemingly indiscriminate violence inflicted on civilians ever morally justified? And should society's response always be in kind - with blind, destructive violence? For that matter, are all civilians truly 'innocent'? The answers are not always so simple.

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism: Ethics and Liberal Democracy provides sobering analyses of the nature of terrorism and the moral justification - or lack thereof - of terrorist actions and counter-terrorism measures in today's world. Utilizing a variety of thought-provoking philosophical arguments, the historic roots of terrorism and its contemporary incarnations are explored in depth. Detailed analyses of organizations such as the IRA, the ANC, Hamas and Al-Qaeda reveal the many faces of terrorism and its disparate motives and tactics. Discussion of the nature and scope of terrorism and whether it can ever be morally justified is balanced with analysis of counter-terrorism strategies and the methods and moral limits of counter-terrorism.

Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism will greatly broaden our understanding of the nature and morality of terrorism and counter-terrorist pursuits - a crucial precondition for establishing any form of enduring peace between nations in the twenty-first century world.

Contents:

The varieties of terrorism

Defining terrorism

Terrorism and collective responsibility

Terrorism-as-crime

Terrorism, war and states of emergency

Torture

Bioterrorism and the dual-use dilemma.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [209]-214) and index.

ISBN:

9781405139427

1405139420

9781405139434

1405139439

OCLC:

181079217

Online:

Contributor biographical information

Publisher description