What is Denoted by the Word Security - Essay Example

Student name: Student number: Tutor: Date: “What is denoted by the word security”? Introduction Security is construed using a multidimensional perspective; hence it has a range of definitions based on the context within which it is used. In the academic setting, security is considered to have no singular definition where researchers have reached a consensus that it should be defined based on the context. The elasticity and diversity of security can be understood in different contexts depending on perceptions of threat, its object, the protected values and the methods through which the values are protected (Nasu, 2011). This essay shows that although security can be defined based on its global objective, it has always aimed to depict the threats and fears that threaten human existence and co-existence within the ecosystem. The assumption is that protection from threats and fears are the underlying meanings in most theoretical approaches of security. The Concept of Security The multidimensionality of security is not a new concept. Indeed, defining security concept has been elusive essentially since the ways in which the term is used has evolved with time. The controversy of security concept stems from the lack of a clear consensus of its meaning. Basing on people’s perceptions, cultures and ideas, the concept of security is interpreted differently. Various concepts of security have revolved around human security, national security, collective security, shared security, bio security, cooperative security, information systems security and sustainable security (Soltani & Yusof, 2012). Wolfers (1952) discussed the concept of security in terms of the values it aims to protect from fears and threats through a certain means and cost. Wolfers’ (1952) depiction of the concept of security was based on the assumption of non-existence of threat or fear. Wolfers (1952) defines security in the context of national security. He characterised security as the absence of threats to obtained values. The definition captured the underlying concept of the term security. Using Wolfers’ (1952) concept, Baldwin (1997) identifies different contexts or ecosystems within which security aims to denote threats and fears, namely identity security, environmental security, social security, national security, economic security and military security. Kolodziej (2004) defines the concept of security as special forms of politics in situations where the actors in a political dispute threaten to use unjustified force to get what they want. This concept is based on historical origin of the word when it was used to depict state security, specifically during the Cold War. From a theoretical perspective, contemporary discussions on security interpret history in the context of prevention of threats and technical and social uncertainties. For instance, Brauch (2011) argued that re-conceptualisation of the term security was actuated by the Cold War, globalisation as well as the dramatic transition from different eras in history (Holecene to Anthropocene phase). Indeed, such new uncertainties are the latent dangers that emerge from social and individual groups, and which can be prevented through political measures or the policing (Brauch, 2011). In an attempt to define the concept of security in terms of national security, Sachs (2003) discussed that traditional description of the state should be credited to Max Weber who noted that security requires necessary conditions to ensure the effective monopoly on the application of legitimate violence within a specific territory. In this case, the security of states faced threats when the monopoly of such legitimised violence was threatened -- whether through internal rebellion of external invasion. Before the Cold War – particularly before 1945 -- the most significant threats to national security were internal rather than external (Ullman, 1983 Baldwin, 1996). A shift however occurred with many threats of international nature (Kay, 2004). As the significant concerns of security have shifted, there has always been a fundamental reconsideration of the framework of state security. As stated by Ullman (1983), threat to national security is an issue that threatens to disgrace the quality of life as well as significantly threatens to narrow the range of policy choices that are available. Sachs (2003) took a similar line of thought when he commented that a threat to national security may be earthquakes, wars or floods whether deliberately or not deliberately inflicted by an internal or external agent Brauch (2011) argued that the concept of security can be derived to mean insurance from eminent risks. From the perspective of security as prevention of threats to technical and social uncertainties, it is clear that security does not depict conditions free of dangers. Rather, an insurance against risks. Given the shift of focus from protection against underlying dangers towards insurance within the context of intangible risks, security has become a general societal idea of value (Brauch, 2011) Security denotes what individuals or institutions make it what it is to be. Brauch (2011) argued that security determine the absence of threats to certain values in abstract sense. To this end, Brauch (2011) pointed out that from the perspective of social constructivist, security is interpreted as an outcome of processes of political and social interaction, where social norms and values or cultural identities are important. Basing on this perspective, security is regarded as being inter-subjective or denoting what actors make it to be. Security can also be defined within the concept of computer security. In this sense, security is derived to mean protection of or prevention against threats of unauthorised access to information or alteration or destruction of information. This can further be restated to imply that security is the ability of the system to protect information resources and computer system with respect to integrity and confidentiality. The underlying concept in this regards is that computer security aims to sustain confidentiality, integrity and authentication. Littlewood and Strigini (n.d.) pointed out that security in Information Technology consists of several attributes, including availability and confidence, and defence against multiple threats such as accidental faults. Similar to other fields of dependability, diverse security attributes can create conflicting demands on designers or web developers (Kay 2004). A newer concept is “home security, which has been observed to denote the need of safety of individuals in the areas of basic needs – such as having access to protection from violence or domestic partners, clean water and food, economic exploitation and energy and environmental security. While such a concept may be essential for indicating a range of human needs that need to be satisfied, it still does not appeal to the traditional perceptions of security (Sperling, 1995). In any case, this shows a shift on what security denotes, as it is not restricted to the use of physical violence, as it also included the political and economic aspects that relate to use of some form of force or threatening peaceful human existence. Shared dimensions From the analysis, it is clear that the different concepts of security share the aspects of protecting valuables, such as food, homes and property, countries, people, information technology and health, from threats or fears. The valuables are associated with the wellbeing or peace of mind of human existence. This evidences that although security is defined in various ways, it has always aimed to depict the threats and fears that threaten human existence and co-existence within the ecosystem. Clearly, protection from threats and fears are the underlying meanings in the multi-dimensional concepts of security. Achieving Security Theoretically From the social constructivist perspective, security can be attained once the perceived fears of security, risks, vulnerabilities, threats and challenges are mitigated and overcome (Jichen et al., n.d.). This perspective is based on the concept of security as an absence of targeted dangers such as risks, challenges, threats and vulnerabilities as well as subjective concerns or fears (Sperling, 1995). Brauch (2011) further elaborated that from a realist perspective, objective security is attained in situations where threats such as dangers, risks or vulnerabilities are mitigated, prevented or avoided by the state, individuals or interest groups. Such a concept was applied by national governments in maintaining economic relations with other countries. Wolfers (1952) identified subjective and objective dimensions on security with the aim of reducing unjustified fears, which are generally the objective of having security policy. Such a definition clearly demonstrates the objective dimension. At the same time, subjective dimension may be facilitated by ensuring the absence of fear or having a peace of mind (Wolfer, 1952). Wolfers (1952) defined security in terms of protecting “acquired values”. The concept can be derived to mean that achieving security is ensured by protecting these values. The value of security can be described based on the conception that that individuals, actors, states and families value security (Baldwin, 1997). In this case, security would be something of value. On the other hand, pursuing security dictates sacrificing other values. Hence, it is essential to determine the value of security proportionate to other values. This can be addressed in terms of core value approach, prime value approach and marginal value approach (Wolfer, 1952). Baldwin (1997) explained that when the term security is used at individual, societal or national level, certain kinds of threats to the acquired values are usually put into consideration. For instance, home security systems are often targeted as potential animal intrusion or burglars while national securities are targeted at other states (Mesjaz, 2004). Based on prime value approach, security can be achieved by giving it precedence over other values such as freedom and prosperity. According to the theory, one way in which value of security can be determined is by asking what life would be without security. Baldwin (1997) explains that a clear response to such an answer is “nasty, solitary, short and poor.” To this end, primary value perspective denotes that security takes precedence over other values. In this regards, while prehistoric people lived in caves for purposes of security, they could not remain there all the time as they would get out of the caves to pursue some adventure, food and water. By doing this, they indicated the readiness to sacrifice the security of the cave for something of other value (Wolfer, 1952). According to the core value approach, security can be achieved by preventing circumstances that threaten the loss of things that humans believe to be of fundamental value (Alkire, 2003). The core value approach accommodates other values by emphasizing that security is one of the most important values. Based on this approach, one would still be confronted with the desire to justify the classification of certain values as core values and others as non-core values (Baldwin, 1997; Mesjaz, 2004). According to marginal value approach, security can be achieved by protecting oneself or a society from threats of scarcity of basic resources. The theory is based on the premise that the law of diminishing marginal utility is applicable to security in the same way it is to other values. It denotes security to assert the importance of food, water and air. In this case, although a certain amount of air, food or water is necessary to sustain life, it does not imply that the value of a glass of water is equal for an individual in a desert and the one swimming in a pool (Baldwin, 1997). Based on this perspective, security is among the various policy objectives that compete for scarce resources, and which are subject to the law of diminishing returns. Hence, the value of national security to a nation varies from a country to the other depending on the extent of security the country has already established. To this end, rational policy-makers will tend to assign resources to security on condition that marginal return is greater for security compared to other resources uses (Mesjaz, 2004). Based on the above analyses, it can be argued that the marginal value approach is the most relevant to the security concept of protecting values from fears. The rationale for selecting the approach is since it portrays security as asserting the protection of important human values such as food, water and air. Achieving Security Practically In the area of computer security, security can be achieved by preventing threats of unauthorised access in three main areas, namely confidentiality, integrity and authentication. Concerning confidentiality, information is protected from threats of access by unauthorised persons (Littlewood & Strigini n.d.). Integrity implies that the information is not changed by unauthorised persons while authentication verifies the owners or authorised users of the information. From a practical aspect, the concept of security is interwoven. For instance, a system that is not able to maintain data integrity, confidentiality or privacy is mathematically and theoretically secure but cannot protect the system from underlying threats. According to Littlewood and Strigini (n.d.), a common scenario is the case of the security of computer servers – such as Domain Name Servers. If a server is vulnerable to threats from attackers, having multiple servers can serve as defence. On the other hand, when an attacker aims to cause effects that are similar to that of physical fault, then it is normal for system designers to come up with similar defence (Littlewood & Strigini, n.d.). In this case, security gains from the capacity to guarantee a service even in situations where an attacker has caused some damage, compromised security lines or accessed stored data without authorisation. A number of security-oriented designs, such as secret sharing, integrate resilience against partial damage and lost confidentiality that an attack on the servers can attain. Possible threats to Internet Domain Servers can include accidental local faults such as fire, flood or hardware faults at various sites that increases the probability of a common failure and physical attack on the premises of the entire servers, where attackers can steal resources around the internet for further massive attacks (Littlewood & Strigini, n.d.). Overall, computer security entails protection of valuable information and property from threats. Bio security also derives the concept of protection of acquire value. In this regards, value depicts the healthy conditions of individuals. Bio security refers to the preventive measures intended to eliminate the risk of disease transmission to humans, livestock and crops. The preventive measures are integrated systems set up to prevent use of hazardous toxins and pathogens for illegitimate use (Cowell, 2009). The most comprehensive definition is protecting individuals from threats of inappropriate, inadvertent or intentionally malicious use of hazardous biological agents to cause epidemics. The definition is therefore analogous to the concept of protecting against threats. Security can be achieved in these situations by preventing the threats. In practical terms, research designed for legitimate purpose can potentially be used to develop bioweapons. This is evident from the reconstruction of the Spanish influenza virus of 1918, which shows how scientific milestones can be used to threaten human and plant life. This creates the threat of bioterrorism. Through self-governance, the scientific community can take pre-emptive steps in safeguarding the integrity of science and minimising its risks (Cowell, 2009). Within the perspective of security in globalisation, achieving security becomes so complex and multidimensional in nature. At the same time, traditional national border-setting type of security perception is not able to recognise newer threats transcending national borders (Spiro, 2002; Clark, 1999). Karacasulu (2006) explains that within this context, the concept of international terrorism emerges and becomes a key concern. Hence, a globalised world is faced with the immediate threat terrorism (Bartelson, 2000). Such a form of threat is recognised by one nation to the other, as nations have become more interdependent and interconnected, they have in themselves become a threat to international security. The threats to international security become evident during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S. (9/11). Global security is defined in regards to the military threats that arise beyond the borders of a nation. Conventionally, security has been understood as use of military force to attain certain national goal (Liberfeld, 2005). Recent conceptualisations of global security have considered security to be two-dimensional, namely non-military threats and military threats. Non-military threats include refugee movement, environmental threats, overpopulation, disease spread and military threats such as terrorism, civil war and ethnic conflict. In the era of Cold War, security was denoted based on its traditional sense. Karacasulu (2006) explains that during the 1970s and 1980s, nations began to be concerned with the environmental and economic threats, and in the 1990s, concern shifted towards transnational crimes and identity (Kucuk, 2012). Conclusion Although security can be defined based on its global objective, it has always aimed to depict the threats and fears that threaten human existence and co-existence within the ecosystem. The protection of human values from threats and fears are the underlying meanings in most theoretical approaches of security. This is indeed reflected in the marginal value approach, which depicts security concept as protecting values from threats. This assumption therefore leads to the conclusion that the word security denotes attempts to reduce unjustified or justified fears or threats. As clearly noted, when the term security is used at individual, societal or national level, certain kinds of threats are usually put into consideration. On the other hand, its multi-dimensional nature has been precipitated by the effects of globalisation, which have increased the threats to human existence and co-existence. Hence, security became more multi-dimensional as it had to denote different aspects of threats that are economic, social, environmental and political in nature. References Alkire, S. (2003). A Conceptual Framework for Human Security. Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity, CRISE Working Paper 2 Baldwin, D. (1996). Security Studies and the End of the Cold War. World Politics 48(1), p.117-141 Baldwin, D. (1997). The concept of security. Review of International Studies (1997), 23, 5–26 Bartelson, J. (2000). Three Concepts of Globalisation. International Sociology, 15(2), 180-196 Brauch, H.(2007). Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace Clark, I. (1999). Globalization and International Relations Theory. Oxford: Oxford University Press Cowell, R. (2009). Understanding Biosecurity: Protecting Against the Misuse of Science in Today’s World. Retrieved from National Research Council. Jichen, S., Dabai, Y. & Paxson, T. (n.d.). A Comparison Between the Ethics of Socrates and Confucius. Retrieved from: Jonathan, J. (2009). A psychological perspective on vulnerability in the fear of crime. Psychology, Crime and Law, 15 (4), 1-17 Karacasulu, N. (2006).Security and Globalization in the Context of International Terrorism. International Law and Politcs 2(5),1-17 Kay, S, (2004). Globalization, Power, and Security. Security Dialogue, 35(1), 9-25 Kolodziej, E. (2004). Security and International Relations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Kucuk, M. (2012). Reflexive Globalisation and Recasting Globalisation Debate in International Relations. Ege Strategic Research Journal, 3(1), 39-58 Liberfeld, D. (2005). Theories of Conflict And The Iraq War. International Journal of Peace Studies, 10(2), 1-19 Littlewood, B. & Strigini, L. (n.d.). Redundancy and Diversity in Security. London: Centre for Software Reliability, City University Mesjaz, C. (2004). Security As An Analytical Concept. Paper presented at the 5th Pan-European conference on International Relations, in The Hague, 9-11 September 2004 Nasu, H. (2011). The Expanded Conception of Security And International Law: Challenges To The Un Collective Security System, International Security, 3(3), 16-33 Ullman, R. (1983). "Redefining Security," International Security 8(1), 153 Sachs, S. (2003). The Changing Definition of Security. Oxford: Merton College Sperling, J. (1995). The Changing Definition of Security. Paper delivered at the ECSA Conference Charleston, South Carolina, 11-14 May 1995 Spiro, P. (2002). Globalization and the (Foreign Affairs) Constitution. Ohio State Law Journal 63(649), 2-49 Soltani, F. & Yusof, M. (2012). Concept of Security in the Theoretical Approaches. Research Journal of International Studies 1, 7-16 Wolfer, A. (1952). "National Security" as an Ambiguous Symbol. Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 67(4), 481-502. Read More

As the significant concerns of security have shifted, there has always been a fundamental reconsideration of the framework of state security. As stated by Ullman (1983), threat to national security is an issue that threatens to disgrace the quality of life as well as significantly threatens to narrow the range of policy choices that are available. Sachs (2003) took a similar line of thought when he commented that a threat to national security may be earthquakes, wars or floods whether deliberately or not deliberately inflicted by an internal or external agent Brauch (2011) argued that the concept of security can be derived to mean insurance from eminent risks.

From the perspective of security as prevention of threats to technical and social uncertainties, it is clear that security does not depict conditions free of dangers. Rather, an insurance against risks. Given the shift of focus from protection against underlying dangers towards insurance within the context of intangible risks, security has become a general societal idea of value (Brauch, 2011) Security denotes what individuals or institutions make it what it is to be. Brauch (2011) argued that security determine the absence of threats to certain values in abstract sense.

To this end, Brauch (2011) pointed out that from the perspective of social constructivist, security is interpreted as an outcome of processes of political and social interaction, where social norms and values or cultural identities are important. Basing on this perspective, security is regarded as being inter-subjective or denoting what actors make it to be. Security can also be defined within the concept of computer security. In this sense, security is derived to mean protection of or prevention against threats of unauthorised access to information or alteration or destruction of information.

This can further be restated to imply that security is the ability of the system to protect information resources and computer system with respect to integrity and confidentiality. The underlying concept in this regards is that computer security aims to sustain confidentiality, integrity and authentication. Littlewood and Strigini (n.d.) pointed out that security in Information Technology consists of several attributes, including availability and confidence, and defence against multiple threats such as accidental faults.

Similar to other fields of dependability, diverse security attributes can create conflicting demands on designers or web developers (Kay 2004). A newer concept is “home security, which has been observed to denote the need of safety of individuals in the areas of basic needs – such as having access to protection from violence or domestic partners, clean water and food, economic exploitation and energy and environmental security. While such a concept may be essential for indicating a range of human needs that need to be satisfied, it still does not appeal to the traditional perceptions of security (Sperling, 1995).

In any case, this shows a shift on what security denotes, as it is not restricted to the use of physical violence, as it also included the political and economic aspects that relate to use of some form of force or threatening peaceful human existence. Shared dimensions From the analysis, it is clear that the different concepts of security share the aspects of protecting valuables, such as food, homes and property, countries, people, information technology and health, from threats or fears. The valuables are associated with the wellbeing or peace of mind of human existence.

This evidences that although security is defined in various ways, it has always aimed to depict the threats and fears that threaten human existence and co-existence within the ecosystem. Clearly, protection from threats and fears are the underlying meanings in the multi-dimensional concepts of security. Achieving Security Theoretically From the social constructivist perspective, security can be attained once the perceived fears of security, risks, vulnerabilities, threats and challenges are mitigated and overcome (Jichen et al., n.d.).

Read More