Beyond 9/11

Two decades after the attacks of September 11, 2001, the idea of homeland security is still taking shape. This collection asks what securing the country now requires and what the first twenty years of federal action teach us. Its contributors combine scholarly research with the firsthand perspective of former senior officials.

The chapters cover a wide range of current concerns: stopping terrorist plots, defending computer networks and essential infrastructure, controlling borders and managing immigration, keeping transportation safe, responding to emergencies, and fighting cross-border crime. A separate thread examines how far government surveillance can reach before it threatens personal privacy. The book also looks at the challenge of running a large and sprawling homeland security bureaucracy.

Rather than only describing past efforts, the authors draw strategic lessons and offer concrete recommendations for strengthening the U.S. homeland security system. The book suits readers interested in security policy, government administration and the trade-offs of protecting a free society.