Knowledge Clip 1
Security: multiple definitions (security on the one hand, safety on the other)
- Security: danger coming from other people/events
- Safety: is when something unexpected happens that isn’t intentionally
- Giddens: stable mental state derived form a sense of order and continuity in regard to
an individual’s experiences (Giddens 1991)
- Condition either related to absence of threat (objectified) or fear (subjective)
o Absence of threat is related to concept of risk:
Risk: change of something bad happening added to the cost of the bad
thing happening
What would the negative consequences be if something bad happens =
risk
o Human beings are very bad at risk calculation
consequence is we don’t really know how to calculate risk adequately
Risk society:
1. proliferation of different kinds of threats/risks in our society
2. Because there are numerous risks/threats, we don’t really know how to calculate that,
therefore we reject the levels of risks that are acceptable transformed into risk
society rejecting the idea of acceptable risks
Baldwin’s operationalization of security
When we think about security/operationalize it, we have to look at different dimensions. Each
should be clearly identified what is exactly meant by it. Like so, we can engage in discussion
with each other about concept of security. If not clearly identified: risk of people not
understanding each other.
How do we operationalise security?
- Security for whom (referent object)?
- Security for what (values to be protected)?
- How much security (levels)?
- From what threats (angle of approach)?
- By what means (power used)?
- At what cost (value conflicts)?
- In what time period?
Security for whom
- The individual
o One person
o A group
o Society as a whole
- A state
o Internal or external perspective
o Within state or internationally
, o Groups can be formed (NATO f.e.)
o also transboundary issues where it is both of them
Even there, different referent objects should be clearly identified to
understand each other
- An International System
o Capitalism
Security for what
- Individuals
o Physical (bodily harm)
o Psychosocial (well-being)
o Economic (possibility to make money)
- States
o Independence (possibility to make its own decisions)
o Integrity (part of land of state is occupied by foreign power, integrity of state is
infringed)
- also: objective and subjective security discussion
o objective threats
o subjective threats
fear somebody has on particular security issue
both are valid, so needs to be discussed
How much security?
different ideas on what the value of security is
- primary importance: may be abandoned if survival is at stake, but not before that (cf.
Maslow)
o almost dichotomous: you have security or you don’t. if you don’t have it, need
it first before developing further
- contested importance: a very important value, but not one that needs to be put against
other values to make a choice
o one of the potential values one has, but needs to be put against other values to
make a choice
o do I want security or privacy?
- fluctuating/diminishing importance: it depends on your starting position, and can
further fluctuate. But the more we have it, the less additional value it gives
o levels of security
o the more one is already secure, the less value given to next level of security
this approach is often argued as most valuable from an analytical
perspective. Other two can become ideological discussion
Protection from what threats?
- Psychical, economic, etc.
o If the threat is physical, economic, against an individual or state it is related to
each other
Security: multiple definitions (security on the one hand, safety on the other)
- Security: danger coming from other people/events
- Safety: is when something unexpected happens that isn’t intentionally
- Giddens: stable mental state derived form a sense of order and continuity in regard to
an individual’s experiences (Giddens 1991)
- Condition either related to absence of threat (objectified) or fear (subjective)
o Absence of threat is related to concept of risk:
Risk: change of something bad happening added to the cost of the bad
thing happening
What would the negative consequences be if something bad happens =
risk
o Human beings are very bad at risk calculation
consequence is we don’t really know how to calculate risk adequately
Risk society:
1. proliferation of different kinds of threats/risks in our society
2. Because there are numerous risks/threats, we don’t really know how to calculate that,
therefore we reject the levels of risks that are acceptable transformed into risk
society rejecting the idea of acceptable risks
Baldwin’s operationalization of security
When we think about security/operationalize it, we have to look at different dimensions. Each
should be clearly identified what is exactly meant by it. Like so, we can engage in discussion
with each other about concept of security. If not clearly identified: risk of people not
understanding each other.
How do we operationalise security?
- Security for whom (referent object)?
- Security for what (values to be protected)?
- How much security (levels)?
- From what threats (angle of approach)?
- By what means (power used)?
- At what cost (value conflicts)?
- In what time period?
Security for whom
- The individual
o One person
o A group
o Society as a whole
- A state
o Internal or external perspective
o Within state or internationally
, o Groups can be formed (NATO f.e.)
o also transboundary issues where it is both of them
Even there, different referent objects should be clearly identified to
understand each other
- An International System
o Capitalism
Security for what
- Individuals
o Physical (bodily harm)
o Psychosocial (well-being)
o Economic (possibility to make money)
- States
o Independence (possibility to make its own decisions)
o Integrity (part of land of state is occupied by foreign power, integrity of state is
infringed)
- also: objective and subjective security discussion
o objective threats
o subjective threats
fear somebody has on particular security issue
both are valid, so needs to be discussed
How much security?
different ideas on what the value of security is
- primary importance: may be abandoned if survival is at stake, but not before that (cf.
Maslow)
o almost dichotomous: you have security or you don’t. if you don’t have it, need
it first before developing further
- contested importance: a very important value, but not one that needs to be put against
other values to make a choice
o one of the potential values one has, but needs to be put against other values to
make a choice
o do I want security or privacy?
- fluctuating/diminishing importance: it depends on your starting position, and can
further fluctuate. But the more we have it, the less additional value it gives
o levels of security
o the more one is already secure, the less value given to next level of security
this approach is often argued as most valuable from an analytical
perspective. Other two can become ideological discussion
Protection from what threats?
- Psychical, economic, etc.
o If the threat is physical, economic, against an individual or state it is related to
each other
