Public Opinion and Counter-Terrorism

This book examines the ways in which the views of the public inhabit the counter-terrorism policy space, with a focus on the UK case.

Drawing insights from Critical Terrorism Studies, Critical Security Studies and studies of public opinion, the book develops an argument that the relationship between public opinion is complex, iterative and mutually instantiating. Rather than public opinion and counter-terrorism policy existing in a simple, uni-directional causal relationship, the book argues that whilst counter-terrorism policy actors are informed by public opinion, in important ways they also construct that very opinion. This argument is made through an empirical analysis of UK counter-terrorism policy. Drawing on primary research interviews with key counter-terrorism policy actors, and security professionals, as well as original analysis of parliamentary debates, the book demonstrates that rather than UK counter- terrorism politics being closed and elite-driven, there exists a complex, dialectical relationship between public opinion and both the making and the implementing of counter-terrorism policy.

This book will be of much interest to students of critical terrorism studies, counter-terrorism, security studies, British politics and communication studies.

Author Biography

Michael Lister is Professor in Politics, School of Social Sciences, Oxford Brookes University, UK. He is the author or editor of five books, including, most recently, The State: Theories and Issues 2nd Edition (with Colin Hay and David Marsh, 2022) and Anti-Terrorism, Citizenship and Security (with Lee Jarvis, 2015).