Rule of Law Versus Security

Democratic societies constantly struggle with maintaining the balance between preserving the legal rights of citizens and providing for the security of the state. The increase of international terrorism and the illicit drug trade have brought this debate to the forefront. As the move toward globalization created a new political and economic landscape, nations were forced to reevaluate policies and consider alternatives to already existing security measures and law-enforcement practices to address the rapidly changing threats. Advances in computer-based technologies have created a virtual world in which information and financial resources can be shared across the globe instantaneously. This access further complicates matters of international relations and security. As a result, many nations have proposed or adopted tactics for addressing these new conditions, but these policies ...