The second of three books in the Democracy and Terrorism series, Democratic Responses to Terrorism tackles how to protect democratic societies against terrorist violence while, at the same time, making sure that the steps democracies take to protect themselves do no fundamental harm to the rule of law and the rights of citizens. This collection of essays from notable scholars assesses such elements as the role of the legal framework, human rights, democracy and civil society, as well as international cooperation. The series explores one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to reconcile the need to fight terrorism with our desire to protect and enhance democratic values. The volumes are an outgrowth of a summit conference organized by the Club de Madrid, an independent organization comprised of many former heads of state, dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world.

As the United States and the countries of Western Europe have sought to promote democratic rule in those parts of the world that have not enjoyed the blessings of liberty, they have failed to consider an important factor. Competitive elections, the sine qua non of democratic government, often gives rise to serious bouts of political violence: mob riots, inter-party fighting, and internal wars. The essays collected in this volume evaluate the relationship between terrorist activity and electoral politics. Do democratic elections themselves undermine the development and stability of the democratic institutions the United States and its allies seek to promote? Under what conditions are democratic elections effective at bringing terrorist organizations into the political process, thereby quelling violence? When and how might terrorist organizations use democratic elections to foment violence? This book was published as a special issue of Terrorism and Political Violence.

Since the terrible events of 9/11, more attention than ever has been paid to the threats and challenges posed by contemporary terrorists. From suicide bombers to the latest cybertechnology, Leonard Weinberg's readable and objective introduction explains who the terrorists are, where they came from, what motivates them and what, if anything, can be done to stop them. It provides a fascinating insight into such mythical figures as Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden, while also offering a full account of how terrorist 'cells' operate and what they might do in the future. With full resources, including a chronology and list of further reading on the subject, anyone interested in matters of public security and international crises will find this essential reading.

Democratic Responses to Terrorism tackles how to protect democratic societies against terrorist violence while, at the same time, making sure that the steps democracies take to protect themselves do no fundamental harm to the rule of law and the rights of citizens. With a foreword by Fernando Henrique Cardoso, former president of Brazil, the essays here assess such elements as the role of the legal framework, human rights, democracy and civil society, as well as international cooperation.

The series explores one of the most pressing issues of our time: how to reconcile the need to fight terrorism with our desire to protect and enhance democratic values. The volumes are an outgrowth of a summit conference organized by the Club de Madrid, an independent organization comprised of many former heads of state, dedicated to strengthening democracy around the world.