Waubonsee Community College

Democracy betrayed, the rise of the surveillance security state, William W. Keller

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Democracy betrayed

bibliography

952388844

William W. Keller

the rise of the surveillance security state

In the aftermath of 9/11, in collusion with booming technological advancements, a new and more authoritarian form of governance is supplanting liberal democracy. The creation of the Security Industrial Complex an “internal security state-within-the-state” fueled by tech companies, private security firms, and the Intelligence Community to the tune of $120 billion a year — is intruding on civil liberties to an extent never before seen in our history. Politicians tolerate it; the average citizen at times welcomes it, thinking it is the way to keep the America safe in a time of uncertainty and terrorism. But how real is the terrorist threat, and is it worth the loss of our individual privacy? As a society, the author maintains, we have yet to comprehend the meaning of universal digital connection, its impact on our psychology, and its transformation of our government and society. America is at a crossroads in contending with our overreaction to terrorism, allowing the beginnings of a police state, and the erosion of our country from a “liberal democracy” to a “secure democracy” – one where government overreaches, tramples on civil liberties, and uses great advancements in technology to spy on the populace., Provided by publisher

The challenge to liberal democracy -- Dimensions of the security industrial complex -- Irrational security -- Catastrophic terror -- Episodic terror -- Torture and detention -- Surveillance and control -- Freedom in the balance