State of Emergency

The late Bauman was known for his searing commentaries on the modern world, including his view of security discourse and its “latent and manifest functions”.

The democratic right to political protest faces a two-fold threat: a broadened definition of terrorism alongside an increasingly militarised form of policing, justified by a state of perpetual emergency.

Despite Edward Snowden’s revelations of widespread surveillance, increasingly intrusive measures are being adopted in Europe in the name of security – but do these actually lead to a more effective prevention of attacks?