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INTRODUCTION TO THE ARTICLES

The study of homeland security is a challenging field of study that requires experts, students, and members of society to understand the underlying reasons for the creation of homeland security systems, as well as the configuration of these systems.  Those who examine homeland security must necessarily study data and theories grounded from a variety of disciplines, including political science, public administration, and the administration of justice.

Federal, state, and local authorities are perennially challenged by the problem of designing homeland security systems which reflect threats emanating from the current terrorist environment.  These challenges are not new, and have historically posed very serious policy questions for all sectors of society.  Unfortunately, these are challenges that are not easily resolved, and which will continue to be at the center of domestic policy.. The possibility of political violence is an unresolved problem, and exists across the nation.  There are no ideal political, national, or social solutions that guarantee immunity from the possibility of being touched by terrorist violence. 

The purpose of this online resource is to stimulate critical discussion about the attributes of homeland security systems and terrorist environments.  This resource is organized into thematic parts which correspond to the textbook’s chapters.  Articles have been selected from reputable scholarly journals, and additional articles are recommended for further study.

TEN CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS

• Does a central cause exist which explains the creation of homeland security environments?
   
• Is it possible to accurately predict the likelihood of terrorist violence?
   
• What are the policy implications of research that indicates an association between homeland security measures and civil liberty challenges?
   
• Do homeland security measures effectively reduce the incidence of terrorism?
   
• Are particular levels of authority within the homeland security enterprise more effective in managing terrorist environments?
   
• Are innovations such as target hardening effective?
   
• How popular is the current homeland security enterprise?  What explains different public opinions in different regions?
   
• What are some of the challenges faced by reformers who sincerely seek to reduce the extent of the homeland security enterprise in order to preserve civil liberty?
   
• How important are international legal institutions and conventions for preventing terrorist violence?
   
• Has enough research been conducted on the sociological and psychological impact of a pervasive homeland security environment?
   

CHAPTER 4.  Civil Liberties and Securing the Homeland

Baumgartner, et. al. argue that American public opinion on foreign policy is significantly affected by religious beliefs.  R. Antony Duff argues that terrorists are entitled to be treated as enemy combatants.  Gabbidon, Penn, Jordan and Higgins explore the problem of racial profiling at airports from the perspective of perceptions by demographic populations.  Specifically, comparison data are presented for perceptions by African Americans, whites, and Latinos.  Harlow reviews literature discussing the propriety of extraordinary renditions.  Neil Macmaster discusses the recent debate about torture within the context of lessons learned in France from the use of torture during the war in Algeria.  Malka and Soto examine the thesis that religiosity has conflicting influences on Americans' attitudes about the use of torture on terrorism suspects.  Laurie Manwell investigates how individuals are manipulated by the media and government into forfeiting their civil protections.  The author reviews cognitive constructs which inhibit the ability of people to process information which challenges their preexisting conclusions.  Kathleen Moore discusses pluralism in the United States within the experiential context of Muslims in America.  Murray critiques the Obama administration’s prosecution of the ‘war on terror’ from a constitutional perspective.  Nahaie and de Lint Explore surveillance in the United States and Canada within the context of data derived from surveys conducted in both countries.  Alberto Rocha, an inmate in Calipatria State Prison in California, equates the domestic “war on gangs” with the “war on terrorism.”  Sturkin examines how the U.S. practice of torture is mediated in American culture.  Michael Walzer explores the application of standards of operations for special operations forces.  Wheeler’s article examines moral theories that are available for analyzing the deaths of innocents in the war against terrorism.  Wilke explores the designation of prisoners as enemy combatants within the context of assuring that justice is upheld.

Baumgartner, Jody C., Peter L. Francia, and Jonathan S. Morris.  “A Clash of Civilizations?  The Influence of Religion on Public Opinion of U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East.”  In Political Research Quarterly, vol. 61 (June 2008).Duff, R. Antony.  “Notes on Punishment and Terrorism.”  In American Behavioral Scientist, 48:6 (February 2005).

Gabbidon, Shaun L., Everette B. Penn, Kareem L. Jordan, and George E. Higgins.  “The Influence of Race/Ethnicity on the Perceived Prevalence and Support for Racial Profiling at Airports.”  In Criminal Justice Policy Review, vol. 20. (September 2009).

Harlow, Barbara.  “‘Extraordinary Renditions’: Tales of Guantánamo, a Review Article.”  In Race & Class, vol. 52 (April 2011).

Lang, Anthony F., Jr.  “Punishment and Peace: Critical Reflections on Countering Terrorism.”  In Millennium – Journal of International Studies, vol. 36 (May 2008).

Macmaster, Neil.  “Torture: from Algiers to Abu Ghraib.”  In Race & Class, vol. 46 (October 2004).

Malka, Ariel, Christopher J. Soto. “The Conflicting Influences of Religiosity on Attitude Toward Torture.”  In Personality and  Social Psychology Bulletin, vol. 37 (August 2011).

Manwell, Laurie A.  “In Denial of Democracy: Social Psychological Implications for Public Discourse on State Crimes Against Democracy Post-9/11.”  In American Behavioral Science, vol. 53 (February 2010).

Moore, Kathleen M.  “Muslims in the United States: Pluralism under Exceptional Circumstances.”  In The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, vol. 612 (July 2007).

Murray, Nancy.  “Obama and the Global War on Terror.”  In Race & Class.  Vol. 53 (October-December 2011).

Nakhaie, Reza and Willem de Lint.  “Trust and Support for Surveillance Policies in Canadian and American Opinion.”  In International Criminal Justice Review, vol. 23 (June 2013).

Rocha, Alberto Mario.  “Undoing the Blindfold of Old Glory: Observations on 9/11 and the War on Terrorism From Lockdown USA.”  In Cultural Studies ß à Critical Methodologies, 4:2 (2004).

Sturken, Marita.  “Comfort, Irony, and Trivialization: The Mediation of Torture.”  In International Journal of Cultural Studies. Vol. 14 (July 2011).

Walzer, Michael.  “On Fighting Terrorism Justly.”  In International Relations, vol. 21 (December 2007).

Wheeler, Nicholas J.  “Dying for ‘Enduring Freedom’: Accepting Responsibility for Civilian Casualties in the War Against Terrorism.”  In International Relations, 16:2 (2002).

Wilke, Christiane.  “War v. Justice: Terrorism, Enemy Combatants, and Political Justice in U.S. Courts.”  In Politics & Society, 33:4 (December 2005).