Policing, terrorism, and beyond

In the US, Israel, and other democratic states, the police have been called to expand beyond their order-maintenance work to participate more and more deeply in the still-forming processes that are our societies' adaptive responses to terrorism. As the US and Israel work to achieve and maintain order and safety in an age of terrorism, these efforts must be understood in relation to the ongoing work dealing with other persistent challenges to public safety. Engaging the police in fighting terrorism raises some unresolved dilemmas for society. The chapters in this volume have begun the complex work of uncovering how this transformative engagement of the police is already making subtle but likely irrevocable changes in the nature and strategies of policing and the character of the bonds between police and community. This chapter summarizes the key findings of the volume, examines the broader context confronting the police in an age of terrorism and beyond, and identifies areas for future research.