ABSTRACT
This chapter maps out the grey area between the explicitly political and the violently coercive. The threshold in this zone is one of violence for the controlled and criminalization for the controller. For the controlled, it marks the transition from legal, nonviolent opposition to that which is violent and therefore criminalized. For the controller, it marks the switch from political or persuasive forms of control to coercive and violent ones. The chapter looks at the relationship between security intelligence and subversion, proactive and reactive policing, and nonviolent and violent dissent. Issues to be addressed include: how to distinguish legitimate opposition movements from fronts for criminal, subversive, or terrorist activity; violent protest of a less serious nature from violence that threatens national security; sympathizers or fellow travellers from active supporters or members of criminal, subversive, or terrorist groups; and those who loudly advocate violence from those who secretly plan to commit violence. How these problems are operationalized has clear implications for the protection of civil and political rights and the maintenance of the rule of law in the fight against terrorism.
