This article is a very interesting reflection on the challenge the emerging terrorist menace imposes to the social equilibrium between liberty and security. Observe that the security conception used in the article is clearly the traditional one, while freedom is quickly equated to human rights. In this situation, human security concept could bring the opportunity to break the dilemma - given the new perspectives it offers both on security and human rights - and help reaching better solutions.
(Any option for empowerment out there?)
I will like to emphasize this example as the crux of the article:
"Despite the [Basque separatist group] ETA threat and the Madrid bombings, Spain has in many ways proved to be a model among governments because it has prosecuted in the usual way," said Mr Roth [Human Rights Watch].This, he said, supported his argument that security and human rights are not at opposite ends of the spectrum: Maintenance of human rights is a better way of improving security.
"Abuses are a boon to terrorist recruiters," said Mr Roth. "There has been a recognition that the breaking of terrorist conspiracies depends less on interrogation than on the cooperation of the public.
"If the public sees itself as complicit in a dirty war, especially if a community identifies itself with the suspects, that makes it harder."
This recognition maybe the first of several steps for a larger security.
See you around,
OAGS