Militarisation of British Democracy

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.

• AcknowledgementsPart One: Militarism Against Democracy1. The Failure of the Ruling Class2. The Conservative-Authoritarian Politics of the Military3. The Power of the Security State and the Failure of Authoritarianism4. The Authoritarian Temptation: The Militarist Coalition and the Dominant Military Narrative5. The Militarisation Offensive: Crisis, Moral Panic and Military Power6. Ground Truth? The ‘Strategy of Optimism’ and the ‘Culture of Silence’Part Two: Fighting America’s Wars7. ‘A Grand Strategic Error’: The Military’s Pursuit of the ‘Bad’ War in Iraq8. The Iraq War: Fighting with the Americans9. “Don’t ask, don’t tell, just do It”: The British Military Goes to Helmand10. “Shedding Blood” in Afghanistan: Politicians in Power?11. Forever Wars: Military Power, the Conservativesand Authoritarian PopulismConclusion: A Militarised Democracy Fighting America’s WarsBibliography

Paul Dixon’s 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.