Domestic Military Powers, Law and Human Rights Calling Out the Armed Forces

This book examines the national and international law, human rights and civil liberties issues involved in governments calling out the armed forces to deal with civil unrest or terrorism.

The introduction of domestic military powers has become an international trend. Troops already have been seen on the streets in major Western democracies. These developments raise major political, constitutional and related problems. Examining the changes underway in eight comparable countries?the United States, Canada, Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Japan and Australia?this book provides a review and analysis of this trend, including its implications for legal and political rights.

The book will be of interest to the general public, as well as students, academics and policy-makers in the areas of human rights and civil liberties, constitutional law, criminal justice and security studies.

1. Introduction: Causes for concern;
2. A deepening international trend;
3. The violent historical record;
4. United States: Sweeping aside protections against domestic military intervention;
5. Canada: Advanced military planning;
6. Britain: Preparing for disruption;
7. France: Troops on the streets to combat social unrest;
8. Germany and Italy: Post-war restrictions eroded;
9. Japan: Creeping militarisation;
10. Australia: Legislating and expanding military powers;
11. How can governments and military chiefs be held to account?;
12. Wider legal, political and democratic implications: From ‘terrorism’ to ‘subversion’;

Dr Michael Head is Professor of Law at Western Sydney University, Australia. He is a well-known writer on civil liberties, war powers and emergency powers, and has written extensively in legal journals and the media on the military call-out provisions.