Marc von Boemcken and Conrad Schetter

Think Piece 09: Security - What is it? What does it do?

Marc von Boemcken and Conrad Schetter stress that thinking about monopolies of force needs to start with clarifying what “security” actually means. They suggest answering this question from two perspectives, the first of which deals with what security is, and the second with what security does.

Bild: Cover der Publikation; Bild: FES

Summary

  • The monopoly on the use of force is a concept that is strongly interlinked with the idea of a state providing security. Therefore it is crucial to consider the different meanings and implications of »security« when reflecting on the future of the monopoly on the use of force.
  • We suggest that two broad avenues for thinking about security may be distinguished from each other. The first perspective displays a preference for the question what security is. By contrast, the second perspective emphasizes what security does.
  • »What is security?«: Many critiques of traditional security studies do not contest the ontology of security itself, but instead denote variations of an »essentialist« understanding of the security paradigm.
  • »What does security do?«: Security can also be understood as an inter-subjective social practice. The securitization literature argues that security is what people say. It is a selfreferential practice that does not refer to something »more real« and attains visibility only in deliberate social conduct.

Boemcken, Marc von; Schetter, Conrad

Security

What is it? What does it do?
Berlin, 2016

Publikation herunterladen (205 KB, PDF-File)