It seems like a simple question that should have a simple answer: security for the homeland, for the country. But after reading Bellavita’s article, it’s clear that the question isn’t really that simple, meaning that the answer won’t be that simple either. In fact, when I read that there are at least seven different possible definitions of what ‘homeland security’ is, I knew that it wouldn’t be easy to answer the question.
When Bellavita compared how the different definitions make the concept of homeland security like an ecosystem, I began to appreciate how truly complicated the concept is, as well as why and how discussion about homeland security is also complicated. I agree with 6 of the 7 definitions Bellavita lists. The first 6 make sense to me and how I understand homeland security. The last one that talks about curtailing civil liberties doesn’t ring true to me. It’s true that sometimes our civil liberties are affected by homeland security activities – but it’s more like a side effect of their activities rather than the actual effort or point of those activities. Even after reading the explanations of these different definitions, I still agree with their accuracy.
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Upon reading the explanation for the seventh definition, about curtailing civil liberties, I appreciate why some people agree with that definition, too. I was horrified to read the information in that section. I knew that incidents like the one described initially in that section – about the couple in Northern Ireland – did occur in America, I didn’t realize how often it has happened and how it continues to happen. It’s really scary how much like Nazi Germany some of the things Bellavita describes in the article are. It’s even more terrifying in the wake of the propaganda-like posters included in the article.
I also agree with Bellavita’s description of how chaotic homeland security was in the wake of 9/11. When he posed the question of whether or not things had become more orderly since then, I anxiously hoped that the answer would be ‘yes.’ Also, I cannot disagree with the impact of 9/11 on the development of the idea of homeland security in America. But as I read the article, I came to the conclusion – especially after the information about the 50 homeland security practitioners – that homeland security is still kind of chaotic. The chaos seems to arise from a lack of a universal definition of what homeland security is, but I can also see why it’s hard to nail down a single, universal definition.
Bellavita’s conclusion encourages practitioners to discuss the issue. In discussing the issue, perhaps practitioners and affected parties can arrive at a definition that accurate and adequately represents what homeland security is and therefore what it should do. Bellavita talks about the evolution of homeland security, and that seems appropriate in his metaphor of homeland security as an ecosystem. Perhaps that is part of the challenge with homeland security: it’s always adapting and evolving in response to the needs of the problem at hand.
So, what is homeland security? Homeland security is many things. It should address terrorism, definitely – that much is clear. It should be the first step in response to terrorist attacks (versus a military one). I think it should address hazards and metahazards as well – these also represent threats to national security, so homeland security should also figure into how those situations are addressed. I think homeland security can assist in natural disasters/catastrophes, but I don’t think they should be the front-line response. Homeland security is definitely important to national security, and it should most certainly focus on that.
I’d say that homeland security should be the front-line responders to terrorist attacks, both domestic and foreign terrorist attacks. I think in the other situations, homeland security can serve either as a resource or as a coordinating entity – helping to guide or direct efforts to address the issue or concern at hand. I think homeland security is less a concept and more a function.
