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Call for Papers "Liberty and Security in the Age of Terrorism" Inaugural Conference Commonwealth Security Studies Laboratory, Morehead State University Lexington, KY (USA) 22-24 October 2010 __________________________________________________ National security is not an end in itself, but the precondition of an end more valuable: Americans' common enjoyment of the "Blessings of Liberty." The appropriateness of measures designed to defeat enemies abroad and ensure domestic tranquility must, therefore, be evaluated in light of the end for the sake of which they are deployed lest our ardor for security erode the liberties our constitutional regime exists above all to protect. At what point is one further increment of security not worth its cost—in terms of resources expended, privacy surrendered, rights infringed upon, and principles betrayed? Calibrating security policy in the age of international terrorism is a difficult task. A theoretical understanding of our regime and its purposes, no less than a prudential assessment of the threats that exist to it today, is more important than ever. The inaugural conference of the Commonwealth Security Studies Laboratory in the College of Business and Public Affairs at Morehead State University is devoted to these themes. The conference committee welcomes the submission of papers addressing the relationship between security and liberty, broadly construed. Anticipated Topics - The nature of Islamic terrorism and the extent of its threat to the West - The requirements and limitations of domestic security post-9/11 - The extent to which the war on terror infringes upon (and/or justifies infringing upon) civil rights and citizens’ expectations of privacy - The treatment of detainees and the appropriateness of coercive interrogation and military commissions - Religious liberty in the West and home-grown extremists - Domestic terrorism and anti-Western ideologies - The appropriateness of a military response to the problem of terrorism - The appropriateness of a law enforcement response to the problem of terrorism - Civil-military relations in the age of asymmetric warfare - Citizens' rights (and duties) post-9/11 - Aliens' rights (and duties?) post-9/11 - Political Correctness as an impediment to effective counter-terrorist policies - The effect of terrorism and counter-terrorism policies on the character of the American regime - The Reagan administration's approach to terrorism - The Clinton administration's approach to terrorism - The Bush administration's approach to terrorism - The Obama administration's approach to terrorism All papers accepted for presentation at the conference will be eligible for inclusion in an edited volume published by the Commonwealth Security Studies Laboratory. Papers will be selected according to a two-part review process: adjudication by a panel of three external reviewers followed by an editorial review. Those selected will have opportunity to revise and expand their submissions prior to publication. Submissions Please submit a 250-word abstract by March 30, 2010 to: [email protected] Authors should include pertinent contact and affiliation information. Authors will be notified of acceptance no later than April 15, 2010. Confirmed Speakers Abram N. Shulsky, Hudson Institute in Washington, DC Bruce Thornton, Fresno State University Event Details All conference attendees are welcome to attend the special program which will take place in Morehead on October 21, 2010. This program will consist of a Morehead State University faculty panel followed by the inaugural CSSL dinner and speaker. Information about this portion of the program soon will be available on the CSSL website: http://www.csslab.org The conference will run from October 21-24, 2010 and will be held at a location in Lexington, KY. The final day of the Lexington conference schedule will consist of a visit to Kentucky's historic Keeneland Race Course, which is located directly opposite Lexington’s Blue Grass Airport. Contact: Murray S. Y. Bessette, Director Commonwealth Security Studies Laboratory Morehead State University 110A Bert Combs Building Morehead, KY 40351-1689 USA Phone: +1 606 783.5420 Fax: +1 606 783.5092 Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.csslab.org __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
