Government secrecy
Subtitle: classic and contemporary readings
By: edited by Susan L. Maret and Jan Goldman.
Contributors: Maret, Susan.; Goldman, Jan.
Publisher: Libraries Unlimited
Published: 2009
Place of publication: Westport, Conn
Language: eng
Number of pages: 794
ISBN-13: 9781591586906
Subjects: Official secrets -- United States; Government information -- United States
Description: "Government Secrecy presents the best that has been thought and written on the subject, including history and philosophy, theory and practice, justification and critique. Through readings, which range from Georg Simmel on secrecy and Max Weber on bureaucracy and secret-keeping, to post-9/11 concerns regarding freedom of information and presidential secrecy, it enables readers to explore the issues and questions that surround the government's right to keep necessary secrets - or not." "This collection, and the diverse perspectives it represents, will engage students and other interested parties in a discussion of the benefits - and dangers - of government secrecy. The collection is designed to generate questions regarding historical accuracy of government information, information ethics, professional neutrality, ownership of information, public right to information, national security, and transparency. The essays explore the criteria and conditions for government secret-keeping and will contribute to public and academic discussion of the role of secrets in democracies."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes index.
Table of contents: title: Perspectives on secrecy; title: A short history of government secrecy; title: Secrecy as regulation; title: Organizational aspects of secrecy; title: Necessary secrets : alternative views on the need for secrets and secret keeping; title: The uncertain future of information : secrecy post-911.