This book argues that the pursuit of war and the further militarisation of British democracy since 9/11 has led the UK into a permanent state of war and made the nation particularly prone to military aggression rather than managing conflict through negotiation. Within NATO, Britain is among the most belligerent nations ratcheting up military expenditure and the use of violence to manage conflict. The militarisation of British (and Western) states and authoritarian values have been manufactured to provide domestic support for permanent war. Failure in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Ukraine and the Middle East has not reduced confidence in the use of military aggression as NATO seeks confrontation in a ‘New Cold War’ between ‘democracy’ and ‘authoritarian’ Russia and China. Paradoxically, Britain and the West’s militarisation proposes to destroy democracy in order to save it, and to provide authoritarian states with the excuse to become more authoritarian.
Critiques the British military’s role in the Iraq and Afghan Wars and its threat to democracy and pursuit of permanent war.
Arvustused
Paul Dixons new book exposes the extraordinary belligerence of the British state, due in large part to the slow rise of influence wielded by the military elite over democratic politics. It is an extraordinary history and a warning to citizens of the world today. -- Joanna Bourke, Birkbeck University of London When things go well, Britain's armed forces are applauded for their professionalism. When things go wrong, they are often portrayed as institutions lacking any agency of their own, and operating entirely at the whim of politicians. That view is simplistic, and Paul Dixon's book is an important and necessary corrective. -- Simon Akam, author of The Changing of the Guard The British Army since 9/11
Acknowledgements
Part One: Militarism Against Democracy
1. The Failure of the Ruling Class
2. The Conservative-Authoritarian Politics of the Military
3. The Power of the Security State and the Failure of Authoritarianism
4. The Authoritarian Temptation: The Militarist Coalition and the Dominant
Military Narrative
5. The Militarisation Offensive: Crisis, Moral Panic and Military Power
6. Ground Truth? The Strategy of Optimism and the Culture of Silence
Part Two: Fighting Americas Wars
7. A Grand Strategic Error: The Militarys Pursuit of the Bad War in
Iraq
8. The Iraq War: Fighting with the Americans
9. Dont ask, dont tell, just do It: The British Military Goes to Helmand
10. Shedding Blood in Afghanistan: Politicians in Power?
11. Forever Wars: Military Power, the Conservatives
and Authoritarian Populism
Conclusion: A Militarised Democracy Fighting Americas Wars
Bibliography
Paul Dixon is Professor of Politics and International Relations, he is the author of several books and teaches at the Universities of Leicester and Queen Mary University of London.
