A comparative study on terrorism and state responses: The American and British experiences

The natural balance between security and freedom in liberal states has been challenged by modern terrorism. In this thesis; the state responses in the light of the terrorist attacks on the September 9, 2001 and July 7, 2005 is analyzed. The terrorist attacks on September 11 and 7 July is analyzed and compared in the scale, perpetrators and immediate results. The state responses of United States and United Kingdom, specific to their reactive antiterrorism legislations to the attacks in their homeland, is analyzed and compared. The Patriot Act of United States and the Terrorism Act of 2006 of United Kingdom is analyzed and compared. Also the criticisms of these legislations, as challenging basic freedom and liberties is analyzed and compared. The effects of anti-terrorism legislations on freedom and liberties is analyzed and compared considering the balance between freedom and security. Finally, this thesis claims that even if there exist a special relationship between United States and United Kingdom; there are differences between two states considering the balance of freedom and security in the framework of anti-terrorism legislations.