The Elusive Line between Liberty and Security: a Study of American Perception

Аннотация:

 

In the United States, as well as in Israel, the immutable question of balancing liberty and security remains as relevant and significant as ever. However, while both countries face this same philosophical dilemma, both countries also face significantly disparate security challenges. This research project was designed to measure both American and Israeli perceptions of civil liberties and legitimate security to determine if they significantly differed, and if so, why. We examined these perceptions via online quantitative surveys and later through volunteered qualitative responses. Our Israeli response (n = 20) was insignificant; however, our American response (n = 273) provided multiple insights to American perceptions of various issues. First of all, our data indicate the American public responds more favorably to online surveys than does the Israeli public. Further, if our sample size is representative of the American public, a significant majority of Americans agree with strong security measures by the government or military in public access areas, in public transit, and in airports. Conversely, a majority of Americans disagree with the use of phone-taps, email monitoring, or the storage of that information as a legitimate security measure by the government or military, at least when justified by “reasons of national security.” There exists a significant distrust of the American government by many Americans, and the phrase “reasons of national security” is likely to engender much of that distrust. Finally, by contrast, there exists relatively little apprehension in the American public to theoretical domestic action by the military.  These perceptions inform the political and ethical challenges which our democracy faces on a daily basis and work to facilitate further discussion of the critical balance between liberty and security.

Литература

References

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