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Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
The Rhetorical Devices Of The Keepers Of State Secrets, Stephane Lefebvre
The Rhetorical Devices Of The Keepers Of State Secrets, Stephane Lefebvre
Secrecy and Society
This article examines a set of rhetorical devices forming a linguistic practice that are used repeatedly by secret keepers in the United States and the United Kingdom when legally and popularly arguing against the disclosure of state secrets. Each of these devices (using lists, using the future conditional, arguing from ignorance and authority, arguing from consequences, and arguing by analogy) play a role in shaping our social understanding of state secrecy. More importantly, these devices provide secret keepers a means by which to assert their knowledge and expertise, and to legitimize, if judges agree with them, the nondisclosure of state …
Review, The New Era Of Secret Law, Patrice Mcdermott
Review, The New Era Of Secret Law, Patrice Mcdermott
Secrecy and Society
In a recent Brennan Center report, The New Era of Secret Law, Elizabeth (Liza) Goitein articulates, examines, and evaluates the claims for and objections to secret law. Under this banner, the report includes any law that is withheld from the public, regardless of whether it may be shared among agencies or with certain members or committees of Congress.” Goitein’s underlying goal is to propose procedural and substantive reforms. Secret Law is a deeply-researched and highly valuable policy brief with an aim of making specific policy recommendations. And readable to boot.