What if everything we believe about security is wrong? This book addresses this question, with a critical analysis of anti-terrorist policies adopted by major Western powers after the events of September 11, 2001. Most anti-terrorism measures – when assessed by constitutional and international courts in terms of adequacy, necessity and proportionality – are in fact useless or even counterproductive. The same irrational approach pervades many current views concerning emergency management, public order and legitimate defence.

Mauro Barberis teaches Philosophy of Law at the University of Trieste.