The Politics of Lying

by Cliffe, Lionel; Ramsay, Maureen; Bartlett, Dave

• ISBN13: 9780333717387
• ISBN10: 0333717384
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2000-06-01
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

This book is a critique not just of government deception, but of democratic political institutions and the way they work. It analyzes justifications and explanations for how and why lying occurs in politics. It examines the implications for democratic practice and documents cases where US and UK governments have allegedly lied to the public, such the Iran-Contra affair, arms trade to Iraq, the war on drugs, and the Northern Ireland security policy. Finally, the book explores what can be done to limit government deception.

Author Biography

Lionel Cliffe is Professor of Politics at the University of Leeds Maureen Ramsay is Senior Lecturer in Political Theory at the University of Leeds Dave Bartlett has taught the Politics of Lying at the University of Leeds

Table of Contents

Preface and an Introduction	ix
Part I Justifying and Explaining Political Deception in a Democracy
Justifications for Lying in Politics	3	(24)
Maureen Ramsay
Democratic Dirty Hands	27	(16)
Maureen Ramsay
Explanations: The Political Context	43	(13)
Maureen Ramsay
Explanations: Deception in the US Political System	56	(24)
Lionel Cliffe
Explanations: Secrecy and Deception in the UK Political Context	80	(15)
Lionel Cliffe
Part II Case-Studies
The Iran--Contra Affairs	95	(14)
Lionel Cliffe
The `War' on Drugs	109	(21)
Lionel Cliffe
The Scott Inquiry: Matrix Churchill and the Arms to Iraq Affair	130	(23)
Dave Bartlett
The Pergau Dam Affair: Civil Aid and Arms Exports	153	(13)
Dave Bartlett
Shoot to kill	166	(22)
Maureen Ramsay
BSE: Mad Cows and Deregulations	188	(19)
Dave Bartlett
Conclusions	207	(10)
Maureen Ramsay
Lionel Cliffe
Bibliography	217	(10)
Index	227