Lecture 1: Introduction to Security & Safety
Three Mile Island Case:
In 1979 an incident occurred in a Nuclear Facility located on a small island in a river in Pennsylvania.
Where a partial meltdown occurred in one of the reactors. This case study is considered as a security
and safety issue because threat and harm is perpetrated both towards the humans and the environment.
The cause of the incident was due to technological malfunctions and the rapid expansion of radioactive
particles throughout the reactor and facility. Therefore due to this malfunction it has led to various
impacts. As nuclear energy was seen as new and what they had thought as a reliable source of energy,
after the incident this belief was changed. The incident received a big amount of media attention. Which
increasingly led to manifestations against the idea of using nuclear energy. As manifestations took place
policies were set in place to restrict to some extent, the use of nuclear energy as a source of energy. Yet,
not to forget that there is a big cost in terms of securitizing the people and the environment.
What Constitutes a Security threat?
When there is a potential for direct or indirect harm towards human beings.
- Direct Harm: Humans breathe polluted air
- Indirect Harm: Polluted air effects crops, humans eat crops.
A safety threat is accidental meaning the incident harms the humans. However, a security threat is man
made therefore, the harm is from one human to the other.
Transboundary Challenges: A challenge that is transboundary in scale. It is a challenge originating
from one area, or contributed by, one country and affecting another country.
Why is Security deemed so important?
According to Malsow’s “Hierarchy of Human Needs”, security is deemed as one of the most important
position, after basic psychological needs.
Yet safety is ranked very high in governmental agendas as it is a basic need, it drives humans and is
essential.
Why is Security increasingly important?
With the development of new technology, arises new security risks due to complex systems. With this in
mind, new accidents can happen: such as a server crash (which would be seen as a safety issue). Or
you could have a potential security threat where confidential data was stolen by a hacker.
What is Security Studies ?
Initially it was seen as the study focused on interstate war and military intervention. However it has
shifted focus from state centered to human centered. This has been seen with new sorts of threats that
have been identified. It has broadened into the inclusion of non-military threats however has deepened
into the inclusion of non-state actors
, Lecture 2: Science
What is Science?
Scientists seek discovery and innovation. Science is an explanation of something without the use of
supernatural forces. It is a structured type of endeavor. The tree of science has led to the creation of
many new disciplines.
The History of Science
The history of science is the disentanglement of three topics; Science, Magic and Religion. However this
made the study of the phenomena more unclear and the three main concepts were way too entangled.
However Thales of Miletus who was a greek philosopher proposed that when talking about Science one
must disregard religion.
Take Away from the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages there was a period of time where it was backtracking. People were killing each
other, lots of destruction and loss of knowledge. Religion was studied at school and as practice people
would study the bible, and would use the bible as a scientific proof for the existence of God. However in
the middles ages universities had opened where some knowledge from the past was conserved.
Take Away from the Renaissance until the Scientific Discovery
During the Renaissance from 1450-1600 intelects would rediscover greek texts. Later in the age of
discovery in 1450-1700 Europe would start travelling the globe, they would set up colonies and would
start trading. It was only from 1500-1800 that Europe finally delved into science and technological
discoveries
The Three Branches of Science
Natural Sciences are considered as “the hard” science and focus on natural reality.
Social Sciences emerged later, and study social phenomena/human interactions.
- Economics, Psychology, Sociology and Law
Humanities is the oldest science we have; it focuses on the output of human society.
- Humanities, History, Philosophy, Anthropology.
, Worldviews
Natural Sciences Social Sciences Humanities
Interests Prediction & explanation of Prediction & explanation of human Understand human ideas &
natural phenomena behaviour expressions
Evidence Controlled experiments Behavior and verbal statements, Written texts, artefacts
controlled conditions
Vocabulary Words, numbers Words, numbers referring to Related to behaviours with serious
behaviour contextual restraints
Valorisation High economic & societal Modest economic & societal impact Minimal economic impact, modest
impact societal impact
“Good Conclusions explained by Conclusions support a theoretical Coherent, convincing arguments
Science” descriptors view of human behaviour
Goal Predict, explain, shape Predict, explain, maybe shape Understand
Impact Big, improve the world Fair Limited, science describes and
observes mainly
Reality Facts are out there Facts are out there and reality is It is constructed
socially constructed
Consequence of Worldviews
The goal and value of Science is to predict, explain, understand and change. Yet will it have an impact?
Can or should science change the world? Finally helps us understand reality and what is out there.
Three Mile Island Case:
In 1979 an incident occurred in a Nuclear Facility located on a small island in a river in Pennsylvania.
Where a partial meltdown occurred in one of the reactors. This case study is considered as a security
and safety issue because threat and harm is perpetrated both towards the humans and the environment.
The cause of the incident was due to technological malfunctions and the rapid expansion of radioactive
particles throughout the reactor and facility. Therefore due to this malfunction it has led to various
impacts. As nuclear energy was seen as new and what they had thought as a reliable source of energy,
after the incident this belief was changed. The incident received a big amount of media attention. Which
increasingly led to manifestations against the idea of using nuclear energy. As manifestations took place
policies were set in place to restrict to some extent, the use of nuclear energy as a source of energy. Yet,
not to forget that there is a big cost in terms of securitizing the people and the environment.
What Constitutes a Security threat?
When there is a potential for direct or indirect harm towards human beings.
- Direct Harm: Humans breathe polluted air
- Indirect Harm: Polluted air effects crops, humans eat crops.
A safety threat is accidental meaning the incident harms the humans. However, a security threat is man
made therefore, the harm is from one human to the other.
Transboundary Challenges: A challenge that is transboundary in scale. It is a challenge originating
from one area, or contributed by, one country and affecting another country.
Why is Security deemed so important?
According to Malsow’s “Hierarchy of Human Needs”, security is deemed as one of the most important
position, after basic psychological needs.
Yet safety is ranked very high in governmental agendas as it is a basic need, it drives humans and is
essential.
Why is Security increasingly important?
With the development of new technology, arises new security risks due to complex systems. With this in
mind, new accidents can happen: such as a server crash (which would be seen as a safety issue). Or
you could have a potential security threat where confidential data was stolen by a hacker.
What is Security Studies ?
Initially it was seen as the study focused on interstate war and military intervention. However it has
shifted focus from state centered to human centered. This has been seen with new sorts of threats that
have been identified. It has broadened into the inclusion of non-military threats however has deepened
into the inclusion of non-state actors
, Lecture 2: Science
What is Science?
Scientists seek discovery and innovation. Science is an explanation of something without the use of
supernatural forces. It is a structured type of endeavor. The tree of science has led to the creation of
many new disciplines.
The History of Science
The history of science is the disentanglement of three topics; Science, Magic and Religion. However this
made the study of the phenomena more unclear and the three main concepts were way too entangled.
However Thales of Miletus who was a greek philosopher proposed that when talking about Science one
must disregard religion.
Take Away from the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages there was a period of time where it was backtracking. People were killing each
other, lots of destruction and loss of knowledge. Religion was studied at school and as practice people
would study the bible, and would use the bible as a scientific proof for the existence of God. However in
the middles ages universities had opened where some knowledge from the past was conserved.
Take Away from the Renaissance until the Scientific Discovery
During the Renaissance from 1450-1600 intelects would rediscover greek texts. Later in the age of
discovery in 1450-1700 Europe would start travelling the globe, they would set up colonies and would
start trading. It was only from 1500-1800 that Europe finally delved into science and technological
discoveries
The Three Branches of Science
Natural Sciences are considered as “the hard” science and focus on natural reality.
Social Sciences emerged later, and study social phenomena/human interactions.
- Economics, Psychology, Sociology and Law
Humanities is the oldest science we have; it focuses on the output of human society.
- Humanities, History, Philosophy, Anthropology.
, Worldviews
Natural Sciences Social Sciences Humanities
Interests Prediction & explanation of Prediction & explanation of human Understand human ideas &
natural phenomena behaviour expressions
Evidence Controlled experiments Behavior and verbal statements, Written texts, artefacts
controlled conditions
Vocabulary Words, numbers Words, numbers referring to Related to behaviours with serious
behaviour contextual restraints
Valorisation High economic & societal Modest economic & societal impact Minimal economic impact, modest
impact societal impact
“Good Conclusions explained by Conclusions support a theoretical Coherent, convincing arguments
Science” descriptors view of human behaviour
Goal Predict, explain, shape Predict, explain, maybe shape Understand
Impact Big, improve the world Fair Limited, science describes and
observes mainly
Reality Facts are out there Facts are out there and reality is It is constructed
socially constructed
Consequence of Worldviews
The goal and value of Science is to predict, explain, understand and change. Yet will it have an impact?
Can or should science change the world? Finally helps us understand reality and what is out there.
