Policy transfer and the UK's 'war on terror': a political economy approach

In: Policy & politics, Band 37, Heft 3, S. 363-387

Abstract

Utilising a political economy perspective in examining the UK's counter-terrorist strategy since September 2001, we argue that there are observable economic and political interests influencing the development and implementation of policy. Specifically, there are significant electoral gains to be made and also lucrative contracts to be won in the new security environment. These interests have culminated in the UK being both an 'importer' of policy from supranational and regional organisations, and other nation states – most notably from the US – and an 'exporter' of policy as a result of having achieved a certain level of kudos with respect to the Northern Ireland conflict.