Civil Liberties and CounterterrorismBy: Jordan Drage (301166788)Assignment 2 - Final DraftPOL 101 W – Andrew HeardIn recent decades, terrorism has fueled many global conflicts and has played a vital role in national politics and international. National policies to combat terrorism continue to be hotly debated around the world as the lines between freedom and security continue to blur. With an almost propagandistic anti-terrorism message being hyped across much of the developed world, one must ask whether progress has been made and whether governments have gone too far in trying to “protect” their citizens. Examine the current terrorism landscape; the different definitions found in the global community; what is currently being done to combat terrorism and the sustainability of these policies, it is clear that contemporary practices need to be rethought to remain a viable and effective means of countering terrorism while protecting fundamental human rights in the future. Modern postcolonial states have been left with artificial borders that may encompass multiple historical groups (including enemies), while other groups (ethnic, religious, etc.) straddle borders and may be divided among several states, which it has led to conflicting leadership and internal nationalism. The post-Cold War world has seen a decline in interstate conflict and an increase in intrastate conflict. As North America and Europe regained economic stability after World War II, many new states fell into the hands of oligarchies, leaving large populations of disenfranchised classes. A wave of revolutions calling for the redistribution of wealth and resources swept through Asia and South America, many of which were fiercely condemned by the West during… middle of paper… possible to continue with the same security, resources and spending on fight against terrorism as has happened in the last ten years. More importantly, the world's citizens must be able to trust their governments to avoid increasing civil unrest. Maybe it's time to focus on preventative measures and start healing as a global community. The end of political conflict and violence is unpredictable, but we may be able to have the same success with a combination of preventative surveillance and community improvement with increased foreign diplomatic relations. Acts of terrorism have existed since the dawn of recorded history, and probably existed even before. It is ignorant to assume that there is some battle to be won instead of engaging and working to reduce the effects of terrorism and perhaps more importantly, simply reduce the need for terrorism..