About Book

This edited volume brings together multidisciplinary essays that critically engage with the metaphor and practice of the “war on terror” following the events of 9/11. The editors Miriam Gani and Penelope Mathew curate contributions from scholars based in Australia, the UK, Canada, France and Germany, covering themes from international law, constitutionalism, criminal law, criminology and psychology. The book is structured in five parts. Part One addresses how the threat is identified and which weapons are chosen (including essays on the British experience of Islam and terrorism, torture prohibition, and constitutional rights under threat). Parts Two and Three grapple with the balance between security and liberty, public perception, proportionality in anti‑terror laws, and the limits of law in the counter‑terrorism environment (including pre‑emptive detention). Part Four examines specific legislative, sanction and prosecution frameworks in Europe and Australia. Part Five turns to the question of bills of rights and human rights protections in the anti‑terror context. The volume offers empirical case studies alongside normative and legal analysis, aiming to provide fresh perspectives on the concept of the war on terror beyond military operations alone.In an era where the global “war on terror” has evolved into diverse forms of state‑security engagement—from counter‑violent extremism programmes to surveillance regimes and anti‑terror legislation—the book remains highly relevant. It offers frameworks to challenge dominant narratives about terrorism and state responses, pushing practitioners and scholars to question whether security policies may undermine rights, justice and social cohesion. For community engagement, the volume provides insightful material for workshops and education programmes on civil liberties, state power, and rights in the security era. It also informs rehabilitative and counter‑extremism initiatives by exploring how laws and polices may contribute to grievances or marginalisation. The comparative focus (Europe & Australia) makes it useful for adaptation to other contexts, including how states might design rights‑sensitive, proportional responses rather than purely securitised frameworks.Fresh Perspectives on the ‘War on Terror’ is a significant, timely contribution that moves beyond simplistic militaristic narratives to interrogate underlying legal, normative and human‑rights dimensions of counter‑terrorism. It is a valuable resource for scholars, policy‑makers, and practitioners concerned with the intersection of security, law and civil liberties in the post‑9/11 world.The book’s strengths include its broad disciplinary scope, the open‑access availability (thus facilitating wider dissemination), and its timely interrogation of the legal and rights implications of counter‑terrorism. Its structure allows for both theory and empirical investigation, enhancing its utility. A limitation, however, is that while it covers multiple jurisdictions, its focus is primarily anchored in Europe and Australia, which may limit direct applicability to non‑Western or Global South contexts without further adaptation. The edited volume format means variability in depth and analytical approach across chapters, which is typical but worth noting. Compared to other works in counter‑terrorism studies, this volume stands out by emphasising rights, proportionality, and law rather than solely military or intelligence perspectives. It is both academically rigorous and accessible for advanced students and practitioners.