Book Review: Jenny Hocking and Colleen Lewis (eds) (2007) Counter-Terrorism and the Post-Democratic State: Monash Studies in Global Movements, Edward Elgar. ISBN 13 978—1—8454— 2917—1, £59.95
| Published date | 01 January 2010 |
| Author | Paul Rogers |
| Date | 01 January 2010 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0952076709347084 |
| Subject Matter | Book Review |
Book Review
Jenny Hocking and Colleen Lewis (eds) (2007)
Counter-Terrorism and the Post-Democratic State
Monash Studies in Global Movements, Edward Elgar. ISBN-13 978–1–8454–
2917–1, £59.95.
One of the most prominent effects of the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent ‘war on
terror’ has been to raise the issue of the response of democratic states in terms of
their counter-terrorism policies and how these affect political and human rights.
This book, one of the few to explore this theme, asks whether ‘the national security
imperative has compromised the democratic state.’
At first sight, the volume appears to be little more than a random collection of
chapters by activists, journalists, lawyers and academics, compiled hurriedly and
with no introduction or conclusion drawing them together. The criticism is valid,
but only to an extent, since the book does indeed suffer from a lack of an overall
context.
In other respects, though, this is actually an impressive volume with some
excellent contributions. It will, in particular, appeal to North American and British
readers, and many others, because part of the emphasis is on the Australian expe-
rience. As such it includes some perceptive analysis of the impact of the 9/11
attacks, especially in the context of the markedly pro-American policies of the
John Howard government in the years that followed.
Although there are interesting essay contributions from Mo Mowlam and Tariq
Ari, much of the book concentrates on the legal environment, with an emphasis on
counter-terrorism legislation and its impact on civil rights but with significant con-
tributions on the legality of torture and the specific issue of Guantánamo. In almost
every case, the contributors deliver thoughtful and closely referenced analyses.
A particular focus on Guantánamo stems largely from the case of the Australian-
born David Hicks who had converted to Islam and was captured in Afghanistan
in December 2001, being detained at Guantanamo for the next five years. His
situation attracted substantial publicity and legal interest in Australia and Hicks
DOI: 10.1177/0952076709347084 117
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