Description
Book SynopsisAttacks can backfire on attackerssometimes spectacularly. In March 1991, an observer videotaped several Los Angeles police beating Rodney King with their batons. Shown on television, the beating caused enormous damage to the reputation of the police and led to the chief''s resignation. This incident and others, such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq and the 1965 surveillance of Ralph Nader, prove that all sorts of attacks can backfire, from torture and massacres to job dismissals and reprisals against whistle-blowers. Through numerous detailed case studies, Justice Ignited presents the first comprehensive treatment of the dynamics of backfire, as it reveals the most promising tactics for causing the backfire of unfair attacks. Understanding backfireboth promoting and inhibiting itis vitally important for activists and everyone else who wants to be effective in the face of injustice.
Trade ReviewBrian Martin has produced an interesting, well written, and comprehensive approach to understanding the unintended consequences of state power and crime. The book utilizes well-known historical and contemporary cases in order to demonstrate the process of backfire. Martin's work will appeal to scholars and activists alike. -- Jeffrey Ian Ross, PhD, professor, University of Baltimore
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Sharpeville Chapter 3 Dili Chapter 4 Dharasana Chapter 5 The Beating of Rodney King Chapter 6 Target: Whistleblowers Chapter 7 The Dismissal of Ted Steele Chapter 8 Environmental Disasters Chapter 9 The Invasion of Iraq Chapter 10 Abu Ghraib Chapter 11 Countershock: Challenging Pushbutton Torture Chapter 12 Terrorism as Predictable Backfire Chapter 13 Theory and Backfire Chapter 14 Conclusion
