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Democracy at the Crossroads? Counter-terrorism and the state

01 July 2005

An International Forum Prato, Italy. 29/30 September 2005
http://www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/democracy

In the few short years since the terrorist attacks in the United States, democratic nations around the world have faced a great challenge - to respond to global terrorism within the bounds of the rule of law and with regard for international human rights principles.

This international forum will convene a number of highly distinguished lawyers, academics, public commentators and policy makers in a critical analysis of important issues impacting upon a healthy democracy, including:

* counter-terrorism laws and the rise of the security state
* the rule of law on the battlefield and in the legislature
* the politics of global terror
* torture, war crimes and the Geneva Conventions
* the creation of 'non-citizens'
* embedded journalists - both at home and abroad

Forum delegates will have the opportunity to engage with the fundamental question of whether in the context of the 'war on terror', a national security imperative has compromised the democratic state. Have liberal democratic states now in essence moved into a post-democratic era?

Confirmed speakers include Tariq Ali, author of The Clash of Fundamentalisms: crusades, jihads and modernity (2002) and Bush in Babylon (2003), Dr Marjorie (Mo) Mowlam, Mr John Pilger, Professor Sir Nigel Rodley KBE, Professor John Keane, Mr Tony Bunyan (Statewatch UK), Mr Martin Woollacott (The Guardian), Professor W. Wesley Pue, Professor Thomas Mertens, Professor Reem Bahdi, Professor George Williams, Professor Tony Coady, Lex Lasry QC, Stephen Kenny, Dr Ben Saul, Dr Guy Goodwin-Gill, Professor Phil Scraton, Associate Professor Jenny Hocking, Associate Professor Colleen Lewis.

For more information, please visit the website or contact:
Sara Cousins
Conference manager
www.arts.monash.edu.au/ncas/democracy
sara.cousins@arts.monash.edu.au