Defining Homeland Security - Essay Example

The paper "Defining Homeland Security" is an excellent example of an essay on social science. Homeland security is a collective term that refers to the government’s effort to keep the country secure, safe and resilient against both acts of terrorism and other hazards. The Department of Homeland Security carries out the above mandate thereby safeguarding the country and its territories. The department does this by carrying out surveillance with the view to averting acts of terrorisms, responding to terror attacks thereby minimizing casualties. The department does the same to both natural and man-made disasters that threaten the security and safety of the homeland. The department carries out extensive surveillance on the country and its territories. However, claims of extravagance coupled with ineffectiveness are rife. The department spends extensively in protecting the country from an external enemy who may not exists thereby leaving the homeland vulnerable to homegrown problems. Current trends in terrorism show that school shootings by Americans among other similar incidences are on the rise. Additionally, excessive use of force by the country’s police service has caused tens of deaths thereby polarizing the country. As the population remains divided, the country remains vulnerable to both external and internal aggression.

In order to enhance the security and safety of the homeland, the department must adopt a holistic approach by investing in nabbing internal threats as well as it does on external aggressions. The department must adopt a multi-agency approach in the fight against terror in order to ensure that it keeps the country safe from both internal and external aggressions. The department of homeland security must work alongside homeland defense by sharing intelligence but limiting its operations to the homeland (U.S Department of Homeland Security, www.dhs.gov). This way, the department will enhance its effort in enhancing the safety and security of the country thus increasing the efficiency of its operations. Read More