PERSONAL AND STRUCTURAL SECURITY FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES

Abstract

The subject of the research presented in this publication is personal and structural security in terms of social sciences. The article characterizes the evolution of the concepts of personal and structural security in terms of social sciences. The category of security may be found in many fields of science and its individual disciplines. This makes security a polysemantic concept and acquires diverse meanings depending on science, discipline or practice [33]. In social sciences, it is situated within the area of needs and values. Consequently by comparing the above-discussed classifications of security approaches, one may reasonably conclude that the coupling between personal security (which directly concerns individual subjects - the person/individual) and structural security (which indirectly concerns those involved in social relations) has the dimension of a relationship with double connotations. In the case of certain security systems, when the individual’s sense of security (personal security) is affected by a threat, the effective functioning of the system (structural security) depends to a large extent on the ability to act of officers who may be considered as components of individual subsystems [29]. Their ability to act under threat (personal security) determines the effectiveness of the specific security system (structural security), and hence the sense of security of ordinary citizens who expect it to be restored (personal security). The state’s duties with respect to personal security of the citizens include not only their obligation to recognise hazards, prevent them and eliminate their consequences but also a special duty to take action to provide soldiers and officers with adequate equipment for their tasks, training, legal regulations and a system of support in the event of any injury to health [30]. In the latter area, it is imperative to have an effective medical and psychological support system organized, both before and after being assigned to particular tasks. It is also essential to ensure an adequate level of legal safety, indicating precise boundaries of powers and responsibilities to the entities obliged to perform safety tasks. The results of the analysis discussed in the publication allow making a presumption that the link between personal security (relating directly to individual entities - a person / an individual) and structural security (relating indirectly to entities involved in social relations) has the dimension of a relationship with double connotations.