One of the major questions facing contemporary society in the areas of political theory and practice, law, philosophy and human rights is whether there is an acceptable balance between national security needs and the protection of civil liberties.
This book raises concerns about the enlarged power of the state. Whilst this is not a new debate, there does not appear to be a great deal of contemporary academic comment. This book examines the erosion of people's democratic rights and the potential catastrophic dangers of neglecting civil liberties.
The central theme is the endemic danger of the enlarged power of the state and the central role of government in undermining personal freedoms through the use of state force in the name of the protection of security. This work also includes a Foreword by Michael Mansfield, QC.