Counter-Terrorism Policy Impact Analysis

YOUR TASK Identify an area of administrative or policy change to civil and/or criminal justice systems relevant to managing terrorism (i.e., justified by politicians in relation to counter-terrorism needs). Your goal is to investigate the impact of that change to the policing-management of ‘terrorism’ and its impacts upon wider civil society. NOTE: NON-AUSTRALIAN EXAMPLES ARE ACCEPTABLE. Some examples of areas of focus can include:  Intensive screening of asylum seekers and migrants for ‘terrorism-related’ connections  Meta-data retention laws (e.g., Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Act 2015 (Cth))  Dual citizenship-stripping of returning foreign fighters  Increased surveillance and questioning powers over Australian citizens (such as those afforded to ASIO)  Journalism, disclosure of information about counter-terrorism operations and free speech  Preventative detention orders in Victoria  Commonwealth ‘Terrorist Act’ offences  Local police counter-terrorism units  Community-based partnerships for counter-terrorism/radicalisation strategies  Counter-terrorism laws and the right to protest  Counter-terrorism laws and whistleblowers  Increased focus on terrorism within electoral politics (e.g., impacts of populism)  Anti-encryption laws and counter-terrorism  For other areas of focus, feel free to post on the discussion board or ask your lecturer for guidance on topics you may want to explore To accomplish this, students should outline how their chosen policy change balances the appropriate ‘risk management’ of the real threat of terrorism with the need to protect democratic and liberal values (such as human rights, democratic freedoms, legal entitlements, etc). Students should outline the impacts of your chosen area of administrative change, including considering whether your chosen policy change has created unintended consequences or ramifications upon non-‘terrorist’ groups or individuals. A reflection is required on whether the specific policy change could be considered a ‘success’ or ‘failure’ and – using your chosen policy change – how the ‘war on terror’ has impacted upon civil society and/or the criminal justice system and its function. Provide an overall argument as to whether this area of change has changed society for the better, for the worse, or produced ambivalent results and outcomes. Use this example to comment, describe, and critically evaluate how the ‘war on terror’ has impacted government, criminal justice, and/or civil society. You will be assessed on your ability to:  Identify an area for administrative/policy change or law reform to criminal justice systems relevant to managing terrorism. This can include: o Changes to the law (state or commonwealth). o Changes to police organisations and policing practice. o Changes to courts or the judicial system. o Changes to the practices of counter-terrorism agencies, such as ASIO, ASD, the Centre for Counter-Terrorism Coordination, etc. o Changes to regulation of citizens, journalists, ‘suspect communities’ and other individuals/groups. o Other changes and possibilities – feel free to discuss ideas with teaching staff.  Investigate the impact of current policy frameworks, policing practices, counter- terrorism strategies and/or legislation on the area/issue you have selected.  Articulate evidence-based legal, criminological, socio-political, and scholarly critiques.  Contextualise the administrative change within broader social, political, historic, and/or economic global trends.  Critically evaluate how the ‘war on terror’ has impacted civil society, government, and/or criminal justice administration. Some questions to consider: o What changes have been made as a response to the threat of terrorism? o How might these changes have side-effects or costs for other values, individuals or groups? SOURCES AND REFERENCE LIST Use of scholarly material should be used to support your claims and the arguments you present – especially when discussing its impacts and the reflection on whether your chosen area of change was a ‘success’ or ‘failure’. Students can also source general scholarship on counter-terrorism or terrorism, as opposed to nation-specific research, if similar changes have been implemented elsewhere to support the impact of such policy/practice. For this task, students are expected to draw upon at least 12 academic sources – for information on what an appropriate source is, consult the ‘Guide on Reputable Sources’ found on the unit site. These can be academic, peer-reviewed sources or policy documents and other grey literature, such as NGO reports or law enforcement or government press releases. However, government webpages will NOT be counted towards this minimum – webpages (e.g., a government ‘About Us’ page) are not specific enough to contribute meaningfully to your analysis, unlike reports and press releases. High Distinction submissions will need to exceed this minimum and use more than 12 sources