Full Description
This book argues that the pursuit of war and the further militarisation of British democracy since 9/11 has led the UK into a permanent state of war and made the nation particularly prone to military aggression rather than managing conflict through negotiation. Within NATO, Britain is among the most belligerent nations ratcheting up military expenditure and the use of violence to manage conflict. The militarisation of British (and Western) states and authoritarian values have been manufactured to provide domestic support for permanent war. Failure in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Ukraine and the Middle East has not reduced confidence in the use of military aggression as NATO seeks confrontation in a 'New Cold War' between 'democracy' and 'authoritarian' Russia and China. Paradoxically, Britain and the West's militarisation proposes to destroy democracy in order to save it, and to provide authoritarian states with the excuse to become more authoritarian.
Contents
Acknowledgements
Part One: Militarism Against Democracy
1. The Failure of the Ruling Class
2. The Conservative-Authoritarian Politics of the Military
3. The Power of the Security State and the Failure of Authoritarianism
4. The Authoritarian Temptation: The Militarist Coalition and the Dominant Military Narrative
5. The Militarisation Offensive: Crisis, Moral Panic and Military Power
6. Ground Truth? The 'Strategy of Optimism' and the 'Culture of Silence'
Part Two: Fighting America's Wars
7. 'A Grand Strategic Error': The Military's Pursuit of the 'Bad' War in Iraq
8. The Iraq War: Fighting with the Americans
9. "Don't ask, don't tell, just do It": The British Military Goes to Helmand
10. "Shedding Blood" in Afghanistan: Politicians in Power?
11. Forever Wars: Military Power, the Conservatives
and Authoritarian Populism
Conclusion: A Militarised Democracy Fighting America's Wars
Bibliography
