One Nation's Security Is Another Nation's Insecurity

Watching the news everyday and constantly hearing one word (security) over and over again got me thinking. What is this security we speak of and how secure has it made us? 

Since the dawn of time, humankind has been enduring conflicts posing a threat to national security. Among these conflicts have been some of the greatest and most intense wars such as World War I, World War II and the Cold War. A relatively more recent addition to these wars has been the “War Against Terror” initiated by the U.S former President Bush following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. If you actually think about it, both domestically in the form of ‘Homeland Security’, and in international military engagements, the pursuit of war against terror inevitably combines and reproduces the conditions and anxieties that it claims to address. These developments recall Kissinger’s cautionary observation that “[t]he desire of one power for absolute security means absolute insecurity for all the others". Ever since the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and onwards, the population of the world has never felt secure and safe again. Ironically, the impact of these terrorist attacks has created an imbalance of security and ultimately a kind of paradox
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The notion of the United States’ war on terror has shaken the people of America where some may even go so far as claiming that their lives will never be the same again. In the United States, the Homeland Security was institutionalized with the intention of promoting freedom for the people of America. The Homeland Security has been institutionalized as the norm to such an extent that the American nation both turns to and depends on Homeland Security at times of peril such as the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However true this conception may be seem, there is always another side to the story. In order to protect and create a sense of security for the American people, Homeland security has launched a website campaign presented to the public under the title “Be Ready!”. The fact of matter is that in taking such actions, instead of calming down the general public, Homeland Security has created a sense of fear and frenzy in the minds of the Americans and therefore in actually has created more insecurity than before. Ironic isnt it!!

Ok that was an all to political and technical view of security .... how about we take something a little more simple like airport security. Although the western states have taken such great measures to ensure the safety of their people, it often goes unnoticed that these actions have in fact created a sense of "insecurity" for those passenger who are of a Middle Eastern or Asian decent and are Muslims. Actually, signs to report "suspicious behavior" were put up as a measure to increase security against a threat but instead they increased the level of insecurity even further. Now wouldnt that just make the American citizens a tad bit paranoid and insecure and keep their eyes on the Muslim which makes them feel just as insecure and threatened. Yup it seems securtizing has done a bang up job making people feel safe!!

I cant help but think about to that ever so popular tv show 24. I was a fan despite its insanity. The controversially popular television show 24 about the counter terrorism unit has over time very clearly created the bridge between us and them. Through various means of racial profiling 24 has managed to instil that idea of us versus them into the minds of its views thereby creating even greater feelings of insecurity. The viewers are constantly reminded that they are being attacked by some terrorist or the other and the world can never be a safe place. Awesome psychological mind play dont ya think!!

You must be wonder where im going with this rambling of mine, well it all comes down to this: History has shown that the world has always been in conflict and consequently states have always been under threat; the most obvious of these conflicts have been the two World Wars, the Cold War and more recently the ‘War Against Terrorism’. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 the world has never been the same in terms of security. The world is living in constant fear of once again being attacked. Major states such as the United States and United Kingdom have taken various counter terrorism measures to ensure the safety if its citizens. However, in reality any attempt to enhance or improve one’s security will at the end of the day result in a high level of insecurity of the other actors involved. That same insecurity will kindle counter reactions to ensure one’s security. Ah yes one nation's security is another nation's insecurity!!! This rippling or domino effect will continue to take place and we shall forever be stuck in a paradoxical loop leaving everyone worse off or at least no better than they were before.