NCJ Number
239807
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 52 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2012 Pages: 651-667
Date Published
May 2012
Length
17 pages
Annotation
The authors of this article argues that corrosive legislative developments in UK counter-terrorism have been made possible by the emergence of a centre-right political consensus that discursively 'trades' the freedoms of the 'minority' or 'Muslim Other' for the protection of the 'law-abiding majority'.
Abstract
The debate about the relationship between security and liberty has intensified in liberal democracies since September 2001. In this article, the authors argue that corrosive legislative developments in UK counter-terrorism have been made possible by the emergence of a centre-right political consensus that discursively 'trades' the freedoms of the 'minority' or 'Muslim Other' for the protection of the 'law-abiding majority'. This consensus has drawn on, as well as been shaped by public opinion. The authors review of the polling data suggests, public opinion is supportive of the shift towards authoritarianism. The authors conclude by considering possible future strategies to unravel the 'populist politics' that have dominated in recent years. (Published Abstract)