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 also examines the potential impact of policy-makers' emphasis on the novelty of cybercrime, their comparisons of the internet to the Wild West, and their claims about criminals going dark. Interdisciplinary in approach, the book builds on existing literature and offers new points of comparison and critical thinking on security issues.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 09 January 2023
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 civilizations to the present day 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 raises questions about governments' characterization of technology companies using terminology typically associated with terrorists, and questions who might benefit from such narratives.

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 approaches to problems that are often perceived as unprecedented, enriching the existing body of research. This book is of utmost importance to legal and policy practitioners, students of Law, Politics, Media, and Classics, as well as anyone interested in cultivating critical thinking skills.

Weight: 285g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032030845