Reconceptualising the security in discourse: inclusive security and popular protests

Abstract

ABSTRACTInternational security is organized in a series of practices that seek to define and respond to security threats in a particular geography or threats and risks emanating from an issue of importance to international security. The major practices in this regard have been both exclusive and inclusive policies addressing security threats and risks. Increasingly, inclusive security policies are not an exception to security practices of the states. With the turn of the century, a number of mass popular protests have occurred throughout the world, including in Russia, Turkey, Macedonia and in other places. In response to these mass popular protests, the attitude of the governments and of the majority populations has mainly been exclusive. This article systematically maps different approaches to the relationship between protests and security as discourses. The protests have been initially defined as a security threat by a range of political actors and analysts as well as by large numbers of ordinary people. However, the attitude of the governments often has characteristics that can be classified as appeasing or inclusive. In this context, the popular protests have come to be tolerated by the governments and by society. The article labels this toleration and acceptance as a practice of ‘inclusive security’.