The third instalment of the UK’s counterterrorism strategy, Contest (HMSO, £28.50), draws on earlier Labour initiatives – part pseudo-analysis of al-Qaida’s current capabilities, part salesmanship – but ‘reflects the changing terrorist threat’ and ‘incorporates new government policies’. Its appearance also reflects ‘the government’s commitment to transparency’ – though it would be more accurate to talk about a commitment to propaganda. With its brandishing of ‘fundamental British values’ and threats to ‘our interests overseas’, there’s a neocolonial feel to the whole enterprise, as though somebody had dug out something written by Joseph Chamberlain and in place of ‘civilising mission’ and ‘the pacification of the natives’ had inserted ‘human rights’ and ‘the rule of law’.

LRB 8 September 2011 | PDF Download