Speaking security to (de)politicise: a study of UK parliamentary debates on Huawei 5G

Abstract

ABSTRACT Using UK-Huawei 5G as a case, this paper maps the securitisation dynamics in the co-occurrence of (de)politicisation. Drawing links between macro/niche-securitisation and (de)politicisation, this paper argues that macro-securitisation can potentially politicise an issue whereas niche-securitisation can potentially depoliticise it. This analysis focuses on the ‘concern-solution’ framing within UK parliamentary debates on Huawei 5G from 2019 to 2020, examining the security narratives of both parliamentarians and ministers. Although both groups addressed national security concerns, parliamentarians macro-securitised Huawei 5G by highlighting the ‘Huawei-China’ linkage and framing it as an ‘Us-Them’ identity issue, portraying it as a threat to the UK’s ideology, values and identity. In contrast, ministers employed niche-securitisation, confining the issue to the telecoms sector and emphasising the overall networks rather than singling out Huawei or China. The parliamentarians’ macro-securitisation potentially rendered Huawei 5G louder and noisier, leading to calls for an outright ban and stricter legislation. Conversely, the government’s niche-securitisation potentially shifted focus towards diversifying the telecoms supply chain, thereby discursively delegating this issue to experts and market and legitimising its abnormal decision-makings on Huawei 5G.