Torture in the National Security Imagination

In the mid-20th century, the United States embraced a vision of "national security torture" to cut ties with domestic torture and mass racial terror. Stephanie Athey's book Torture in the National Security Imagination argues that dispelling this vision requires a new set of questions about the everyday work that torture does for U.S. society. She shows that torture is a colonial legacy with a corporate future, highlighting its role in colonial settlement, American Indian boarding schools, and police violence.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 11 January 2024
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

At the dawn of a century marked by imperial expansion, characterized by the Philippine-American War of 1899-1902 and the post-9/11 debates surrounding waterboarding, the United States embraced a vision of "national security torture." This vision sought to distance itself from domestic torture and mass racial terror, instead promoting torture as a minimalist interrogation tool. In her book, Torture in the National Security Imagination, Stephanie Athey delves into the intricate role of torture in the proliferation of a U.S. national security stance and imagination. She traces the historical trajectory of torture, from its refinement in the Philippines at the turn of the twentieth century to its incorporation into counterinsurgency theory and law-and-order policing, ultimately manifesting in the form of mass incarceration.

Athey's analysis is grounded in a rich tapestry of examples, drawn from news reports, military documents, legal writings, and activist media. Through these sources, she reveals that torture must be understood as a colonial legacy with a corporate future. She highlights the centrality of torture to the American empire, encompassing its role in colonial settlement, American Indian boarding schools, and police violence. Athey also underscores the importance of recognizing the spectators and commentators who perpetuate and normalize torture, as well as the collaborative networks of professionals involved in its implementation. These networks include equipment suppliers, contractors, bureaucrats, university researchers, and profiteers, all of whom contribute to the sustained social imaginary that supports torture.

By examining the local social functions that drive torture, the networked professional collaborations that facilitate its conduct, and the public support it receives, Athey challenges the notion that torture is solely a product of the state or a tool of repression. Instead, she argues that torture is deeply embedded in society, shaped by local contexts and driven by social dynamics. This perspective emphasizes the need for a comprehensive reassessment of the role of torture in the context of police violence, mass incarceration, and racial capitalism. It calls for a deeper understanding of the ways in which torture is perpetuated, justified, and normalized, and for the development of strategies to dismantle this harmful practice.

In conclusion, Torture in the National Security Imagination offers a thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between torture, power, and society. Athey's book sheds light on the historical roots of torture and its enduring impact on American society. By challenging the dominant narrative of torture as a tool of repression, she provides a framework for understanding the ways in which torture is perpetuated and normalized. This book is a vital contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of torture in contemporary society and a call to action for those who seek to build a more just and equitable world.

Weight: 454g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517913281