Global governance implications of terrorism : using UN resolutions to justify abuse of basic rights

From a purely formal standpoint, the response of the United Nations to the terrible events of 11 September 2001 constituted a triumph for transnational governance. The UN Security Council took unprecedented action following the terrorist attacks, seemingly demonstrating its capacity to act decisively as the global instrument for collective action. Within 24 hours, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1368 had been adopted, unanimously condemning the attacks and sanctioning military responses. Two weeks later, Resolution 1373 obligated all member states to take far-reaching legislative and executive action in order to combat terrorism. Never before since its establishment after the Second World War had the Security Council ordered all countries to undertake a course of action, a nominally unified course of action, to deal with a perceived common threat – in this instance, that of international terrorism. In reality, it will be argued, quite opposite conclusions should be drawn.