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Counter-Terrorism Laws and Measures are having serious implications for civil society and are affecting the scope for activities associated with active citizenship. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are a particular target of concern for security services and insecure governments, due to their role in the transfer of resources, and their outreach to the poor and disaffected.
Here we reveal the major findings of workshops with Northern and Southern partners – how this perception and the discourse on terror has permeated thinking among most Western donors, causing most non-state actors to be viewed as potential threats to global security. This work forms part of ongoing research in this area.
Both the US and UK governments have rapidly expanded their security commitments on the so-called ‘War on Terror’ (WoT). Development resources are increasingly being allocated towards states that are perceived to be allies as well as those that are directly affected (such as Iraq and Afghanistan).
Current policy has centred on the containment of terrorism, and how NGOs can safeguard themselves against being used by organisations involved in terrorism. INTRAC has conducted unique scoping studies that emphasise the gap between policies of containment, and how these play out in practice in ways that risk eroding democratic freedoms and state accountability.
• Regional CTM Workshops
In 2006-07 INTRAC organised a series of workshops in Europe, South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East on the effects of counter-terrorism measures (CTMs) and security concerns on the work of civil society organizations.
An overview of INTRAC's CTM workshops is available below:
Overview INTRAC's CTM Workshops.pdf (39Kb)
• INTRAC CTM Analysis
Briefing papers & resources relating to CTM workshops & debates.
• CTM Links
New publications
Civil Society and the War on Terror by Kasturi Sen with Tim Morris
£17.95
This book draws together the findings from INTRAC's workshops with civil society groups in five regions of the world. It highlights how counter-terrorism measures have undermined ordinary peoples' livelihoods and, using examples from participants, shows how presure is being placed upon civil society in the name of northern security concerns. A veritable industry has been created which is being used mainly to oppress and silence dissent.
Fragile States: Dilemmas of Stability in Lebanon and the Arab World by Ali Fayyad
Briefing Paper 16 has a northern focus and links the rationale behind the war on terror to its effects on development policy worldwide.
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