Terrorism, Freedom, and Security: Winning Without War
In the debate over how far governments should go to combat terrorism, Heymann is squarely with those who warn that instituting severe measures that undermine democracy plays into the terrorists' hands. He makes the case against declaring "war on terrorism" because such a designation does not distinguish between different types and overemphasizes military responses. Moreover, suspending civil liberties, ignoring international institutions, and looking for quick military fixes all strike Heymann as contrary to good values and good sense. He argues instead for a focus on intelligence collection, law enforcement, and international cooperation. This book is a judicious and systematic guide to the various policy options at each stage of counterterrorism, from prevention (a priority, in Heymann's view) to consequence management; however, its prescriptions (particularly those on the international front) are too brief given the complexity of the situation they are meant to address.
Sign-up for free weekly updates from ForeignAffairs.com.