New Trends in Societal Security research in the Nordic countries 26-27 November 2014 in Stockholm

1. Societal Security Research in Denmark
Karen Lund Petersen
Associate Professor, Director CAST
Stockholm, Nordforsk Conference
November 2014
Centre for Advanced Security Theory

2. Societal Security as matter of identity
Centre for Advanced Security Theory
Environment: the 1980-90’s debate between traditionalists vs.
Wideners
Focus on identities: “the ability of a society to persist in its essential
character under changing conditions and possible or actual threats”,
(Buzan et al 1998)
Processes of integration and disintegration of political communities
and collective identities (migration, religion, decolonization)

3. Security as speech acts
Centre for Advanced Security Theory
Sector Referent Object Survival
Societal
Political/military
Economic
Environmental
Nation
State
Firm
'Nature'
Identity
Sovereignty
No entitlement!
Sustainability
Ole Wæver (2003) Securitisation: Taking stock of a research programme in
Security Studies, p. 17

4. Centre for Advanced Security Theory
Societal security as matter of ‘critical’ functions
Critical Infrastruture Protection, Homeland Security and
Resilience
- Societal security as protect against threats to vital societal
functions
”Societal security comprises the ability of a society to sustain
vital societal functions and secure its population’s life, health,
needs and basic values under extraordinary stresses, known as
crises.”

5. An even wider concept of security?
Security Risk Management