PRIO Network

Security


Coordinator: Mareile Kaufmann

How security actors and practices affect concepts and understanding of security

What does it mean to be secure in today’s world? The security research group focuses on the changing landscape of security actors (state and non-state, the European Union, NATO, United Nations) and practices, aiming to recast and develop the concept of security through new approaches and methodologies. It promotes original analyses of threats (political, military, societal) and objects of security (individuals, communities, states, economic and ecological systems and infrastructures), security technologies (e.g. biometrics, explosive detection) and methodologies (scenario-planning, risk assessment, preparedness, threat enactment).

Research Questions

  • What role do security rationalities, technologies and practices play in the governance of societies? 
  • How can we prevent and deal with conflict or crises?
  • How are threats framed and communicated?
  • What are the epistemic strategies employed in the governance of the future and how are they changing?
  • What are ethical challenges of contemporary security governance?
  • How are security problems perceived and approached in different regions of the world?

Themes and Interests
  • Societal security
  • Crisis management and resilience
  • Conflict prevention and peace-building
  • Security politics of humanitarianism and migration
  • Security foresighting and trend analysis
  • Human security
  • Cyber Security
  • Financial security
  • Terrorism and radicalization 
  • Securitization
  • Gender and security
  • Media and security
  • Psycho-social security

 

Discipline and Methodology
The Security research group combines and invites researchers from diverse disciplinary backgrounds, such as Political Science, International Relations/Critical Security Studies, Law, Sociology, War- and Peace Studies, Philosophy, Cultural Studies and Criminology.  Methodologically the group focuses on qualitative research (e.g. interviews, document analyses and case studies). The group takes a critical approach to security, drawing on governmentality studies and genealogy, conceptual and cultural history, political philosophy, media studies and social theory, endorsing self-reflective and non- Euro-centric perspectives. 

The internationally recognized peer-reviewed journal Security Dialogue is an important thematic pillar of the security research group, as is the PRIO New Security Studies Series (Routledge). 

Peer-reviewed-Journal-Article

Tunander, Ola (2012) Samtidshistoria, internationella relationer och källproblematiken [Contemporary history, internatinal relations and the problem with sources] , Internasjonal Politikk 70(4): 474–498.
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum (2012) Unique Identification: Inclusion and Surveillance in the Indian Biometric Assemblage , Security Dialogue 43(5): 457–474.
Tunander, Ola (2012) Subs and PSYOPs: The 1982 Swedish Submarine Intrusions , Intelligence and National Security 27(6): .
Baev, Pavel K. (2012) Russian Energy as a Challenge and a Bonus for European Security , Studia Diplomatica 64(1): 91–100.
Boy, Nina;Burgess, J. Peter; & Leander, Anna (2011) The Global Governance of Finance and Security: Introduction to the Special Issue , Security Dialogue 42(2): 115–122.
Carling, Jørgen; & Hernández Carretero, María (2011) Protecting Europe and Protecting Migrants? Strategies for Managing Unauthorised Migration from Africa , British Journal of Politics and International Relations 13(1): 42–58.
Carling, Jørgen (2007) Migration Control and Migrant Fatalities at the Spanish-African Borders , International Migration Review 41(2): 316–343.

Monograph

(2001) Hårsfjärden - Det hemliga ubåtskriget mot Sverige [Hårsfjärden - The Secret Submarine War against Sweden]. : Norstedts Förlag. .
(2004) The Secret War against Sweden - US and British Submarine Deception in the 1980s. : Frank Cass. .

Book Chapter

(2012) Dual State: The Case of Sweden The Dual State: Parapolitics, Carl Schmitt and the National Security Complex. : Ashgate(171–192).
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum; & Lidén, Kristoffer(2012) Theoretical Challenges for Assessing Socio-Cultural Sensitivity in Governance and Conflict Resolution [15 May] Norms and Premises of Peace Governance. Socio-Cultural Commonalities and Differences In Europe and India. : Berghof Foundation(25–30).
Carling, Jørgen(2011) The European Paradox of Unwanted Migration A Threat Against Europe? Security, Migration and Integration. : Brussels University Press (VUB)(33–46).

Non-refereed_Journal_Article

Carling, Jørgen (2007) The Merits and Limitations of Spain's High-Tech Border Control , Migration Information Source .

Master Thesis

(2007) Norwegian Media Discourses and the Middle-Eastern Other. Identity and Security.Universitat Jaume 1, .
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum (2007) Norwegian Media Discourses and the Middle-Eastern Other. Identity and Security.Universitat Jaume 1, .

Conference Paper

Kaufmann, Mareile 2013 Resilience Regulation and Networked Spaces, presented at COST-Action: Catastrophe, Resilience and Law, 23 - 24 January 2013, , 23–24 January 2013.
Kaufmann, Mareile 2012 Embracing unknowns: Emergency, resilience and the epistemology of complexity, presented at COST Action: IS1003 "Anticipatory Knowledge in International Law" , , 17.09.2012–18.09.2012.
Kaufmann, Mareile 2012 Networks, Security and Resilience, presented at ICTs and Global Governance, , 28.09.2012–29.09.2012.
Kaufmann, Mareile 2012 Resilience Governance and Networked Space, presented at Practices of Resilience Workshop, , 13.12.2012.
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum; & Lidén, Kristoffer 2011 Theoretical Challenges for Assessing Socio-Cultural Sensitivity in Conflict Governance, presented at CORE, , .
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum 2012 Identification and Financial Inclusion: Gendering the biometric enrolment of homeless in Delhi, presented at 2012 annual NFU conference: Development for a Finite Planet: Grassroots perspectives and responses to climate change, resource extraction and economic development, , .
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum 2012 Ethical and Societal Implications of National Biometric Identification, presented at New Delhi: The High Level Privacy Conclave, , .
Kaufmann, Mareile 2011 Terrorism and Security in Norway - Recent Developments in Law and Intelligence Governance, presented at CASIS Annual Conference 2011, , 09 November 2011.
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum 2008 'Our' values and the 'Other': The West, Islam, and (Counter) Discourses of Enmity in the Mass-Media, presented at Propaganda: War and Biopolitics, Oslo: HL Senteret, , .
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum 2008 Media Coverage of Islam, presented at Popular Lecture. Oslo: HL Senteret, , .

PRIO Policy Brief

Leander, Anna (2012) Silent and Irresponsible. European Approaches to Commercial Military Services 6. : PRIO.
Leander, Anna (2012) Letting Others Lead. European Approaches to the Regulation of International Military Markets 7. : PRIO.
Leander, Anna (2012) Commercial Politics of Peace. Military Markets Recasting European Engagements in Afghanistan 8. : PRIO.
Burgess, J. Peter (2012) The Societal Impact of Security Research 9. : PRIO.

Report Other

Jumbert, Maria Gabrielsen (2012) Overview report on trans-national and European law and regulation relative to maritime border control13.2. : Protection of European Borders and Seas Through the Intelligent Use of Surveillance (PERSEUS).
Kaufmann, Mareile (2011) 2.1 ValueSec Decision Domains, Concepts and Trends relevant for Security Decisions: FP7 Project "Mastering the Value Function of Security Measures" (Valuesec).
Kaufmann, Mareile (2011) 3.1 ValueSec Framework for the Assessment of Methods and Tools, which address security decisions: FP7 Project "Mastering the Value Function of Security Measures" (Valuesec).
Kaufmann, Mareile (2011) 3.2 ValueSec Catalogue of evaluated Methodologies and Tools available, which address security decisions: FP7 Project "Mastering the Value Function of Security Measures" (Valuesec).
Kaufmann, Mareile (2011) 3.3 ValueSec Evaluation of Methods and Tools, and the required improvements: FP7 Project "Mastering the Value Function of Security Measures" (Valuesec).
Jumbert, Maria Gabrielsen (2012) Report on relevant legal, ethical and rights issues on data collection, retention and transmission13.5. : Protection of European Borders and Seas Through the Intelligent Use of Surveillance (PERSEUS).
Jumbert, Maria Gabrielsen; & Lidén, Kristoffer (2012) International survey of relevant national, EU and intergovernmental security policies13.1. : Protection of European Borders and Seas Through the Intelligent Use of Surveillance (PERSEUS).
Moe-Pryce, Marit; & Gräns, Jonas (2010) Working paper analyzing the transformation of gendered security values as a result of the evolution of security technologies: .

Report External Series

Gräns, Jonas; & Sira, Inger Helene (2010) The Promotion of Human Security in EU Security Policies, INEX Policy Brief Series, 7. : .

Book Review

Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum(2009) Review of European Security Culture: Language, Theory, Policy (Monica Gariup) 855.
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum(2010) Review of Media, Wars and Politics: Comparing the Incomparable in Western and Eastern Europe (Ekaterina Balabanova, 2007) 99.
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum(2006) Review of Journalists Under Fire: Information War and Journalistic Practice (Howard Tumber & Frank Webster) 641.
Jacobsen, Elida Kristine Undrum(2012) Review of Security, Risk and the Biometric State: Governing Borders and Bodies (Benjamin J. Muller) 745–745.