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Democratic heroism - Directive 2006/24/EC and the struggle for the soul of democracy

Karlsson, Rasmus LU (2008) 2nd ECPR Graduate Conference, 2008
Abstract
In the debate on how to make democracy strong against terrorism, it has been suggested that the Western democracies need new protective measures. This paper argues that, far from protecting democracy, such measures may in fact undermine the very values and virtues that make democracy possible.



Information freedom, the right to due process and the protection of privacy are all fundamental for the functioning of a democratic society. Despite this, recent years have seen a string of new laws, both in the US and in Europe, that in different ways curtail key civil liberties. Even countries entirely unaffected by international terrorism, such as Sweden, have passed new legislation allowing electronic surveillance and covert... (More)
In the debate on how to make democracy strong against terrorism, it has been suggested that the Western democracies need new protective measures. This paper argues that, far from protecting democracy, such measures may in fact undermine the very values and virtues that make democracy possible.



Information freedom, the right to due process and the protection of privacy are all fundamental for the functioning of a democratic society. Despite this, recent years have seen a string of new laws, both in the US and in Europe, that in different ways curtail key civil liberties. Even countries entirely unaffected by international terrorism, such as Sweden, have passed new legislation allowing electronic surveillance and covert listening devices. Taking the recent Swedish legislation as its starting point, the paper will also address the related EC directive on data retention (2006/24/EC). A key question posed is to what extent democracy has to be based on courage or even “heroism” if it is to remain true to itself when confronted by terrorism or other existential threats. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to conference
publication status
unpublished
subject
keywords
Electronic Surveillance, Terrorism, Democracy, Political theory
pages
11 pages
conference name
2nd ECPR Graduate Conference, 2008
conference location
Barcelona, Spain
conference dates
2008-08-25 - 2008-08-27
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
631639a2-8bec-4dbf-8a01-deddb1ec3330 (old id 1277716)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 13:20:36
date last changed
2018-11-21 21:13:21
@misc{631639a2-8bec-4dbf-8a01-deddb1ec3330,
  abstract     = {{In the debate on how to make democracy strong against terrorism, it has been suggested that the Western democracies need new protective measures. This paper argues that, far from protecting democracy, such measures may in fact undermine the very values and virtues that make democracy possible.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Information freedom, the right to due process and the protection of privacy are all fundamental for the functioning of a democratic society. Despite this, recent years have seen a string of new laws, both in the US and in Europe, that in different ways curtail key civil liberties. Even countries entirely unaffected by international terrorism, such as Sweden, have passed new legislation allowing electronic surveillance and covert listening devices. Taking the recent Swedish legislation as its starting point, the paper will also address the related EC directive on data retention (2006/24/EC). A key question posed is to what extent democracy has to be based on courage or even “heroism” if it is to remain true to itself when confronted by terrorism or other existential threats.}},
  author       = {{Karlsson, Rasmus}},
  keywords     = {{Electronic Surveillance; Terrorism; Democracy; Political theory}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  title        = {{Democratic heroism - Directive 2006/24/EC and the struggle for the soul of democracy}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/6096556/1277718.pdf}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}