Rhetoric of InSecurity: The Language of Danger, Fear and Safety in National and International Contexts

This book challenges the way we think about security by examining the history of security rhetoric in various contexts, including the US security strategy, the war on Big Tech, and cybersecurity. It draws connections between the ancient world and the present day, highlighting the use of language to shape perceptions of security. The book questions the emphasis on novelty in cybercrime, the comparison of the internet to the Wild West, and the claims of criminals going dark. It interdisciplinary in approach, drawing on existing literature in the Humanities and Social Sciences to offer new perspectives on security concerns. It is essential for legal and policy practitioners, students of Law, Politics, Media, and Classics, and anyone interested in employing critical thinking.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book challenges us to critically examine the narratives surrounding security, leveraging tools that have been in our possession for millennia. It delves into the historical trajectory of security rhetoric across various contexts, including the United States security strategy, the war on Big Tech, and contemporary concerns such as cybersecurity. By examining the language of security discourse, the work identifies recurring themes spanning from ancient times to the present and even into the near future. The book establishes a linguistic foundation for recent comparisons between Donald Trump and the Emperor Nero, drawing upon evidence from historical texts. It explores the potential consequences of policymakers' emphasis on the novelty of cybercrime, their analogies between the internet and the Wild West, and their assertions about the disappearance of criminals. It questions governments' characterization of technology companies using terminology typically reserved for terrorists, raising questions about potential beneficiaries.

Approaching security from an interdisciplinary perspective, the book builds upon existing literature in the Humanities and Social Sciences, particularly in the fields of rhetoric in Greco-Roman texts and the articulation of security concerns in law, international relations, and public policy contexts. It offers fresh perspectives and a proven methodology for analyzing problems that are often described as unprecedented. This book holds significant value for legal and policy practitioners, students of Law, Politics, Media, and Classics, as well as anyone interested in cultivating critical thinking skills.

Weight: 382g
Dimension: 160 x 241 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367463076