The Approach of the EU and the US to Combating Terrorism in Relation to Human Rights

Bc. Ivana Broučková

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Abstract The aim of this thesis is two-fold. The first part is focused on the counter-terrorism policies which have been enacted or otherwise have been revived in the European Union and the United States in the aftermath of the September 11th 2001 attacks. This information is then used to achieve the second aim of this thesis which is the relationship between counter-terrorist legislation and human rights. While in the first part, most attention is paid to the proliferation of legislation in the EU, the second part is devoted to the US since it is this country which has taken a more prominent role in the human rights debate; in the negative sense. Guantanamo, a symbol of human rights violations has existed for a surprisingly long period of time. But this is not to say that there were not serious objections not only from human rights groups but also from world’s governments, many of which European, and even officials and the legislative branch in the US itself. This begs the question how, despite the deep criticisms and thwarting transnational cooperation, the Bush administration has been able to sustain its policy for so long. In an attempt to answer this question, a detailed account of the development of the Bush doctrine is provided for. This, again is not to say, that the US has been the only human rights violator in relation to counter-terrorist legislation. Quite on the contrary, the controversial report compiled by Dick Marty, the so called ‘Marty report’ has in fact made serious allegations and even purportedly provided proof that a number of EU member states have been complicit in CIA extraordinary renditions, a policy that has become yet another symbol of the ‘war on terror’. The report remains a source of contention but nevertheless receives substantial attention. The incoming Obama administration and the highlights of its policies related to counter-terrorism and everything around it in the past three months will be discussed, also so as to reflect on the future of, inter alia, transatlantic cooperation which has been hindered, many times as a result of the Bush administration. In this sense, some remarks are made towards the US role and image of a free nation, which has been seriously stained in the past few years, and whether there is a chance of a recovery.

Keywords

Al Qaeda, terrorism, Iraq, war on terror, George W. Bush, EU, Guantanamo, Human rights, “black sites”, torture, security, imbalance, radicalisation

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 29. 4. 2009

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 26. 5. 2009
• Supervisor: Mgr. Hubert Smekal, Ph.D.
• Reader: JUDr. Mgr. Ivo Pospíšil, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Social Studies

Master programme / field:
Political Science / European Politics (Eng.)