Security, Civil Liberties, and Terrorism

Comprehensive Unit130 pagesGrade Level: High School – Community CollegeIncludes curriculum unit + 2 CD-ROMs One of the defining aspects of terrorism is that it is a resort to violence that circumvents the democratic process. How, then, do liberal democratic governments fight terrorism within their existing governmental constructs? In the latter half of the twentieth century, and especially since the attacks of September 11, 2001, sub-state terrorism has emerged as one of the most prominent security concerns for the United States. The war on terrorism dominates U.S. diplomatic, foreign affairs, military, law enforcement, and judicial discourse. To make effective decisions on how to wage the war on terror, Americans must think critically about what terrorism is and what policies best prevent future terrorist acts. They must also ask themselves what, if anything, they are willing to trade to gain security from future terrorist acts. Such an analysis begins with a simple question: Wh