Securitization (international relations)
Encyclopedia
Securitization in international relations is a concept connected with the Copenhagen School
, and is largely seen as synthesis of constructivist
and classical political realism in its approach to international security
. In contrast to materialist approaches of classical security studies, securitization is a process-oriented conception of security. In other words, while classical approaches of security focus on the material dispositions of the threat including distribution of power, military capabilities, and polarity, securitization examines how a certain issue is transformed by an actor into a matter of security. Securitization is an extreme version of politicization that enables the use of extraordinary means in the name of security. For the securitizing act to be successful, it must be accepted by the audience. Securitization studies aims to understand "who securitizes, on what issues (threats), for whom (referent object), why, with what results, and not least, under what conditions." The term was coined by Ole Wæver
in 1995, but seems to have become commonplace, at least within constructivist studies of international relations.
Basic Components of a securitization act:
That a given subject is securitized does not necessarily mean that the subject is of objective essence for the survival of a given state, but means that someone with success has constructed something as an existential problem. Principally, anyone can succeed in constructing something as a security problem through speech acts. The ability to effectively securitize a given subject is, however, highly dependent on both the status of a given actor, and on whether similar issues are generally perceived to be security threats.
If a subject is successfully securitized, then it is possible to legitimize extraordinary means to solve a perceived problem. This could include declaring a state of emergency or martial law, mobilizing the military or attacking another country. Furthermore, if something is successfully labelled as a security problem, then the subject can be considered to be an illegitimate subject for political or academic debate.
In Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Barry Buzan
, Ole Wæver
and Jaap de Wilde
work with five political sectors in which a securitization could take place:
However, a securitization could easily involve more than one of these sectors. In the case of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
, one could say that the conflict was securitized militarily; weapons of mass destruction
was one reason for the invasion. However, the war was also securitized as a societal problem; human rights in Saddam's Iraq
was mentioned in the public rationale. Another less obvious example would be the immigration debate in the United States. Concerns of terrorist infiltration are regularly cited as grounds for the tight control of borders. Because it is more easy to securitize an issue following September 11, this concern for safety and security has taken attention away from the economic factors that have always been at play in international migration.
Many critical security scholars, especially since 9/11, have used the term 'securitization' without giving proper credit to the Copenhagen School.
The Copenhagen School (international relations)
The Copenhagen School of security studies is a school of academic thought with its origins in international relations theorist Barry Buzan's book People, States and Fear: The National Security Problem in International Relations, first published in 1983. The Copenhagen School places particular...
, and is largely seen as synthesis of constructivist
Constructivism in international relations
In the discipline of international relations, constructivism is the claim that significant aspects of international relations are historically and socially contingent, rather than inevitable consequences of human nature or other essential characteristics of world politics.-Development:Nicholas Onuf...
and classical political realism in its approach to international security
International security
International security consists of the measures taken by nations and international organizations, such as the United Nations, to ensure mutual survival and safety. These measures include military action and diplomatic agreements such as treaties and conventions. International and national security...
. In contrast to materialist approaches of classical security studies, securitization is a process-oriented conception of security. In other words, while classical approaches of security focus on the material dispositions of the threat including distribution of power, military capabilities, and polarity, securitization examines how a certain issue is transformed by an actor into a matter of security. Securitization is an extreme version of politicization that enables the use of extraordinary means in the name of security. For the securitizing act to be successful, it must be accepted by the audience. Securitization studies aims to understand "who securitizes, on what issues (threats), for whom (referent object), why, with what results, and not least, under what conditions." The term was coined by Ole Wæver
Ole Wæver
Ole Wæver is a professor of International Relations at the Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen. He has published and broadcast extensively in the field of international relations, and is one of the main architects of the so-called Copenhagen School in International...
in 1995, but seems to have become commonplace, at least within constructivist studies of international relations.
Basic Components of a securitization act:
- Securitizing actor: an entity that makes the securitizing move/statement;
- Referent object: the object that is being threatened and needs to be protected;
- Audience: the target of the securitization act that needs to be persuaded and accept the issue as a security threat.
That a given subject is securitized does not necessarily mean that the subject is of objective essence for the survival of a given state, but means that someone with success has constructed something as an existential problem. Principally, anyone can succeed in constructing something as a security problem through speech acts. The ability to effectively securitize a given subject is, however, highly dependent on both the status of a given actor, and on whether similar issues are generally perceived to be security threats.
If a subject is successfully securitized, then it is possible to legitimize extraordinary means to solve a perceived problem. This could include declaring a state of emergency or martial law, mobilizing the military or attacking another country. Furthermore, if something is successfully labelled as a security problem, then the subject can be considered to be an illegitimate subject for political or academic debate.
In Security: A New Framework for Analysis, Barry Buzan
Barry Buzan
Barry Gordon Buzan is Montague Burton Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics and honorary professor at the University of Copenhagen and Jilin University...
, Ole Wæver
Ole Wæver
Ole Wæver is a professor of International Relations at the Department of Political Science, University of Copenhagen. He has published and broadcast extensively in the field of international relations, and is one of the main architects of the so-called Copenhagen School in International...
and Jaap de Wilde
Jaap De Wilde
Jaap H. de Wilde is a Professor of International Relations and World Politics at the University of Groningen. From 2001 to 2007 he was professor in European Security Studies at the Department of Political Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and from 1995-2007 he was senior research fellow in...
work with five political sectors in which a securitization could take place:
- Military
- Political
- Economic
- Society
- Environment
However, a securitization could easily involve more than one of these sectors. In the case of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
, one could say that the conflict was securitized militarily; weapons of mass destruction
Iraq and weapons of mass destruction
During the regime of Saddam Hussein, the nation of Iraq used, possessed, and made efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction . Hussein was internationally known for his use of chemical weapons in the 1980s against Iranian and Kurdish civilians during and after the Iran–Iraq War...
was one reason for the invasion. However, the war was also securitized as a societal problem; human rights in Saddam's Iraq
Human rights in Saddam's Iraq
Iraq under Saddam Hussein had high levels of torture and mass murder.Secret police, torture, murders, rape, abductions, deportations, forced disappearances, assassinations, chemical weapons, and the destruction of wetlands were some of the methods Saddam Hussein used to maintain control...
was mentioned in the public rationale. Another less obvious example would be the immigration debate in the United States. Concerns of terrorist infiltration are regularly cited as grounds for the tight control of borders. Because it is more easy to securitize an issue following September 11, this concern for safety and security has taken attention away from the economic factors that have always been at play in international migration.
Many critical security scholars, especially since 9/11, have used the term 'securitization' without giving proper credit to the Copenhagen School.