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THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE LAW AND CRIMINOLOGY (ISSN- 2693-0803)
VOLUME 06 ISSUE12
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PUBLISHED DATE: - 01-12-2024
PAGE NO.: - 1-5
TRACING THE PATH FROM CRIME CONTROL
TO COUNTERTERRORISM: THE WAR ON
CRIME AS A PRECURSOR
Jack Garcia
Brennan Center for Justice, New York University School of Law, New York, NY, USA
INTRODUCTION
The transformation of global security policies over
the last several decades reveals a notable shift from
a focus on crime control to an emphasis on
counterterrorism. This transition, from the War on
Crime to the War on Terror, is not merely a change
in the type of threats being addressed, but a deeper
evolution in the mechanisms, ideologies, and
strategies employed by governments in response
to perceived dangers. While the War on Crime,
initiated in the mid-20th century, primarily aimed
to address domestic criminal activity through law
enforcement and punitive measures, the War on
Terror
—
emerging after the 9/11 attacks
—
focused
on combating global terrorism through military
interventions, surveillance, and international
cooperation. Yet, a closer examination reveals that
many of the security tools and tactics that became
central to the War on Terror were already in place
during the War on Crime.
This paper seeks to explore the continuity between
these two security paradigms and investigate how
crime control policies and strategies laid the
groundwork for the War on Terror. The focus will
be on the increasing role of surveillance, the
militarization of law enforcement, and the shift in
public and governmental discourse surrounding
security. The rise of mass incarceration, expanded
police powers, and the adoption of advanced
surveillance technologies during the War on Crime
set a precedent for similar strategies in
counterterrorism efforts. These developments not
only shaped how security threats were understood
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Open Access
Abstract
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and addressed but also had profound implications
for civil liberties and the relationship between the
state and its citizens.
By tracing the path from crime control to
counterterrorism, this paper explores the idea that
the War on Crime was not an isolated phenomenon,
but rather a precursor that influenced the policies,
attitudes, and infrastructure that would come to
define the War on Terror. Understanding this
evolution provides critical insight into the long-
term consequences of these shifts for law
enforcement, governance, and international
relations in the contemporary world. Through this
analysis, the paper aims to contribute to the
ongoing conversation about the balance between
security and individual freedoms, particularly in
the context of increasingly globalized and
militarized responses to perceived threats.
METHODOLOGY
To explore the evolution from the War on Crime to
the War on Terror, this study adopts a qualitative,
historical approach, analyzing primary and
secondary sources to trace the development of
security policies and their interconnections. By
examining the historical context, political
discourse, and legislative changes that marked the
shift from crime control to counterterrorism, this
paper seeks to understand how the strategies and
ideologies developed during the War on Crime laid
the groundwork for counterterrorism measures.
The methodology involves a detailed review of
scholarly literature, policy documents, legislative
acts, and government reports, complemented by an
analysis of key events and shifts in security
practices.
Historical and Policy Analysis:
The first step in the methodology involves
reviewing the historical trajectory of security
policies related to crime control from the 1960s
onward, with particular focus on the United States,
as its policies have been influential globally. This
includes examining landmark initiatives such as
the “War on Crime” decl
ared during the Johnson
administration in the 1960s, followed by the rise of
the “War on Drugs” and the “Law and Order”
agenda of the 1980s under Presidents Nixon and
Reagan. These policies, along with their key
components (increased policing, surveillance, and
mass incarceration), serve as the foundational
context for understanding the later evolution of
counterterrorism measures. The analysis will
identify specific policies, shifts in law enforcement
tactics, and the adoption of new technologies
during the War on Crime that foreshadowed
counterterrorism practices.
Examination of Key Security Measures and
Strategies:
Central to this paper is an analysis of the security
measures implemented during the War on Crime
and how these were adapted or expanded in
response to the rise of global terrorism. This
includes the militarization of law enforcement
—
the use of military-grade equipment by domestic
police forces
—
and the growing reliance on
surveillance technologies such as wiretapping, data
collection, and intelligence-gathering. Additionally,
the use of anti-terrorism legislation in the
aftermath of the 9/11 attacks will be analyzed for
continuity with prior crime control measures. In
particular, the study will focus on the USA PATRIOT
Act and how its provisions expanded government
surveillance powers, echoing earlier policies from
the War on Crime.
Discourse Analysis:
The paper also employs discourse analysis to
investigate how the framing of security threats has
evolved from criminal activity to terrorism. This
involves analyzing political speeches, media
reports, and official government documents from
the War on Crime era and the subsequent War on
Terror. The shift in rhetoric
—
from a focus on law
enforcement and crime prevention to a focus on
national security and the global war on terrorism
—
will be explored to understand how political
narratives influenced public attitudes and policy
decisions. By analyzing these discourses, the study
will identify how fear, political agendas, and
societal concerns about security led to the
expansion of state power in both domestic and
international spheres.
Case Studies and Comparative Analysis:
To illustrate the continuity of security practices,
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the paper will include case studies of specific
incidents or periods that highlight the overlap
between crime control and counterterrorism
strategies. These case studies will include:
The 1980s crackdown on organized crime and how
strategies used in this context (e.g., wiretapping,
surveillance, and targeted arrests) were mirrored
in the early counterterrorism measures post-9/11.
The implementation of the “three strikes” laws and
their role in mass incarceration, which set a
precedent for militarized responses to perceived
threats.
The post-9/11 security responses, such as the
expansion of the Department of Homeland Security
and the adoption of military tactics in domestic
policing, including the use of the National Guard
and the fusion of federal and local law enforcement.
This comparative analysis will help to clarify the
continuity between the two security paradigms
and the ways in which practices developed under
the War on Crime were repurposed or extended to
address terrorism.
Interviews and Expert Testimonies (Optional):
For additional perspective, the study may also
include interviews with experts in the fields of law
enforcement, counterterrorism, and security
studies. These interviews will provide firsthand
accounts of how law enforcement strategies
evolved from crime control to counterterrorism.
Expert opinions will help contextualize the
historical material and provide insight into how
these changes were viewed by practitioners,
policymakers, and the public. While the main
emphasis is on historical and policy analysis, these
expert perspectives can enrich the understanding
of the real-world implications of the shift from
crime control to counterterrorism.
Data Synthesis and Conclusion:
Finally, the paper will synthesize the findings from
historical, policy, and discourse analyses, providing
a comprehensive view of how the War on Crime
laid the foundations for the War on Terror. The
study will draw conclusions on the long-term
implications
of
these
security
practices,
particularly in relation to civil liberties, the
militarization of law enforcement, and the role of
surveillance
in
modern
governance.
By
understanding this trajectory, the paper will offer
insights into the challenges of balancing national
security with individual freedoms, particularly in
the context of an increasingly interconnected and
surveilled global society.
RESULTS
The results of this study reveal a clear continuity in
the evolution of security strategies from the War on
Crime to the War on Terror. Several key findings
emerge from the analysis of historical documents,
policy shifts, discourse, and case studies:
Militarization of Law Enforcement: One of the most
significant outcomes of the War on Crime was the
increasing militarization of local police forces. The
adoption of military-style tactics, the use of SWAT
teams, and the acquisition of military-grade
weapons became common during the War on
Crime in response to the rise of urban crime and
drug violence. These strategies, which were
initially intended to deal with domestic threats,
later found their place in the War on Terror. The
militarization of law enforcement only intensified
post-9/11, with federal programs such as 1033
Program that allowed the transfer of military
surplus equipment to local police departments.
This shift facilitated a seamless integration of
military tactics in domestic policing during the War
on Terror.
Surveillance and Intelligence Gathering: The
expansion of surveillance technologies, including
wiretapping, data collection, and intelligence
sharing, was central to the War on Crime. These
techniques,
initially
used
for
criminal
investigations and anti-drug efforts, were later
extended to counterterrorism following the 9/11
attacks. The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001, for
example, allowed for the expanded use of
surveillance methods that had been honed during
the War on Crime. The analysis showed a
significant overlap in the tools and strategies
employed in both contexts, especially regarding the
tracking and monitoring of individuals considered
potential threats to national security.
Legislative Foundations: Legislation passed during
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the War on Crime, such as the Anti-Drug Abuse Act
of 1986 and Crime Control Act of 1990, established
the legal and institutional frameworks for
increased surveillance, militarization, and the use
of federal resources in law enforcement. These
measures laid the groundwork for later
counterterrorism legislation, including the Patriot
Act, which expanded federal authority and
surveillance powers. The findings indicate that
many of the legal and institutional mechanisms put
in place during the War on Crime were merely
adapted and rebranded for counterterrorism after
the attacks of 9/11.
Cultural and Political Discourse: The discourse
surrounding crime and terrorism underwent a
significant transformation from the 1960s through
the 2000s. During the War on Crime, crime was
framed as a domestic issue primarily handled by
law enforcement agencies. By contrast, the War on
Terror emphasized a national security threat posed
by foreign and domestic actors with terrorist
affiliations. Despite these differences in framing,
the response to both was similar in terms of
strategy
—
both saw the expansion of state power,
increased surveillance, and the prioritization of
national security concerns. The political rhetoric
used to justify these policies shifted in the
aftermath of 9/11, but the foundational themes of
law and order, security, and the need for strong
governmental intervention remained consistent.
Ca
se Studies: The case studies of the “three strikes”
laws and the militarized responses to terrorist
threats provide further evidence of continuity in
the security strategies. The three strikes laws,
implemented in the 1990s, were part of a broader
trend toward harsher punishments and the
criminalization of social issues, which were later
echoed in counterterrorism efforts that sought to
classify terrorism as a criminal act and punish it
severely. Additionally, the post-9/11 responses,
such as the Homeland Security Act, were directly
influenced by the aggressive policies of crime
control, using similar language and strategies.
DISCUSSION
The findings of this study confirm that the War on
Crime significantly shaped the security policies and
strategies that later became integral to the War on
Terror. Both wars share common elements: the
expansion of state surveillance powers, the
militarization of law enforcement, and an
increasing emphasis on security over civil liberties.
The War on Crime not only provided the
institutional and legal frameworks for the War on
Terror, but also helped normalize the idea of a
permanent state of emergency, where state
security measures could be continuously expanded
in the name of protecting the public.
A critical discussion point is the legacy of
surveillance and militarization, which has raised
concerns about the erosion of civil liberties and the
growing power of the state. The blending of
domestic policing and national security measures
blurs the lines between criminal justice and
counterterrorism. This is particularly evident in
the use of mass surveillance and the
criminalization of dissent, where individuals, often
from
marginalized
communities,
are
disproportionately targeted both for criminal
behavior and for their potential ties to terrorism.
The militarization of policing has also led to
increased tensions between law enforcement and
local communities, with concerns over police
brutality and the use of excessive force.
Moreover, the War on Terror expanded the global
reach of the security state, drawing on strategies
developed domestically to address terrorism
worldwide. The same tools of surveillance and data
collection used to fight crime were deployed in the
global war on terror, where countries outside the
U.S. became subjects of intense surveillance,
intelligence gathering, and military intervention.
This global extension of the War on Crime raised
concerns about human rights violations, with the
Global War on Terror sometimes being criticized
for infringing on privacy, due process, and
international law.
CONCLUSION
The War on Crime played a critical role in laying the
foundation for the War on Terror by introducing
surveillance tools, militarized policing tactics, and
a legal framework that prioritized security over
civil liberties. While these strategies may have been
necessary at the time to address the specific
challenges of crime in the 20th century, their
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evolution into counterterrorism strategies raises
important questions about the balance between
national security and individual freedoms.
As the War on Terror continues to evolve, the
lessons learned from the War on Crime provide
crucial insight into the potential dangers of
unchecked government power, especially when it
comes to surveillance and law enforcement. The
overlap in tactics and ideologies underscores the
importance of maintaining a careful balance
between security concerns and the protection of
democratic freedoms. Future discussions on
national security should consider the long-term
implications of these strategies, not only for
domestic policy but also for global governance and
human rights.
This study suggests that the legacy of the War on
Crime continues to shape contemporary security
measures, and that understanding this evolution is
crucial for evaluating the effectiveness and ethical
implications of modern counterterrorism policies.
By tracing the path from crime control to
counterterrorism, we gain a deeper understanding
of how past security measures inform present and
future approaches to maintaining order in an
increasingly complex and interconnected world.
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U.S. to end immigrant registration program
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Smoke and Mirrors: The War on Drugs and the
Politics of Failure
5.
Making Crime Pay: Law and Order in
Contemporary American Politics
6.
Race, drugs, and policing: understanding
disparities in drug delivery arrests
7.
Racial disproportionality in the U.S. prison
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Courtroom 302: A Year Behind the Scenes in an
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