Security: Protection or Control?

Your government defines safety based on what keeps them in power, not necessarily

what keeps you safe. In international relations, security is actually an essentially contested

concept because nobody agrees on what it really means. Traditionally, it is just about

the state protecting its borders with military force. Look at Turkey’s operations in Syria

or the US War on Drugs. They frame these issues as existential threats to justify

using extreme force. But here is the catch. When leaders label something a security

threat, they can bypass normal rules and rights. So ask yourself,

does a stronger state actually make you freer, or just more controlled?