About the Book
Fear of terrorism, crime and social chaos are all factors which have put our society's ideal of liberty very much into retreat. How can we resist the growth of intrusive authoritarianism without exposing ourselves to these risks?
What Price Liberty? uses our very own history as a guide to answering this question. Moving through four centuries of British, American and European history, it elaborates not just how civil liberties were constructed in the past, but how they were continually rethought - and re-fought - to adapt to new circumstances. Putting into context the controversies of the past decade or so, as well as the issues currently shaking our principles - such as the raging debate surrounding 42-day detention - What Price Liberty? shows that in order for liberty to survive, we must all agree upon the value we place on it.
An essential and utterly enlightening discussion, it provides the material and arguments with which we can make sense of our times.
What Price Liberty? is available in bookshops on June 4, 2009.