Shifty insecurities

It has become a truism of our time that we live in an age of increasingly fragile social arrangements; the rhetoric of a clash of civilizations, cultural conflict, security threats, the 'war on terror' and a climate of fear circulates widely"”and wildly"”among politicians, tabloid journalists, shock jock radio commentators and bloggers from across the political spectrum. Chickens Little and Big incessantly proclaiming that the 'sky is falling!' make it increasingly difficult to assess the difference between substantive threats and moral panic. This would not be such a concern except for the very real consequences this rhetoric has had over the last decade"”in terms of both encouraging moves towards assimilationist ideology and in licensing drastic and far-reaching intelligence, military and policing measures.