Protection Against Terrorism through Emergency Management Structures

The liberal democracies of the world are fighting a war with terrorists who are using fourth-generation tactics.1 Collective action across borders against terrorists may be the most effective weapon available to the nations striving to prevent terrorist acts on their soil. The response from the nations has to be effective, yet meet the standards of the international conventions and treaties. As described in Chapter 2, law enforcement entities are organized to use their skills to track, counter, arrest, and convict terrorists. Because the goal of law enforcement is prevention of such acts, their investigations and preventive measures may run counter to traditional notions of civil rights in an open society. Terrorism poses a challenge to protect the residents’ physical safety and their civil rights at the same time.