The Evolution of Counter-Terrorism Since 9/11: Understanding the Paradigm Shift in Liberal Democracies

This book examines the evolution of counter-terrorism (CT) policies in liberal democracies since 2001, with a specific focus on the case of Belgium.

What is counter-terrorism (CT)? While the answer to this question may seem self-evident, it has become quite complicated to define the contours of a field that has expanded dramatically in the two decades since the 9/11 attacks. The development of "softer" policies, dealing with the prevention of radicalisation, has blurred the limits of CT.

Through the use of public policy theory and an in-depth case study on Belgium, the book identifies the key factors influencing CT policy-making, both domestically and internationally, and offers an explanation for the development of a more comprehensive CT agenda across Europe. It provides an innovative theoretical approach and is also based on extensive interviews with key counter-terrorism officials and analysis of key policy documents. The book concludes by identifying some key drivers of change and offers an embryonic theory of CT policy-making.

The book will be of much interest to students and practitioners of counter-terrorism, radicalisation, European politics and security studies.

Thomas Renard is Senior Research Fellow at the Egmont Institute, Belgium and is also Adjunct Professor at the Brussels School of Governance.