The UK's latest defence and security reviews set out a simple but effective narrative of an embattled UK in need of urgent military and societal mobilisation amid "radical uncertainty" and a "dangerous world". But what are the deeper assumptions that this dangerous narrative feeds off? And how can a counter-narrative harness other national values and … Continue reading ‘Dangerous World’, Dangerous Narrative: Countering the National Security Strategy’s Assumptions
International Cooperation, 80 years on from 1945
As we approach another major anniversary of the end of the Second World War (VE80), the international institutions built to prevent such a cataclysmic conflict reoccurring have never seemed so challenged. Amidst the anxiety about where we are headed, politically and diplomatically, it is essential that we communicate the successes of cooperation and sustainable security. Joana Frew summarises some of the critiques of the post-1945 order and begins to look at successes achieved since then. RS will be sharing more such stories of cooperation, success and progress in developing sustainable security in a webinar on 21 May and a series of Blog articles over this year.
Election 2024: Opening a new conversation on sustainable security
Some commentators and politicians are saying that the 2024 general election is all about security and it is clear that the main parties are using the language of ‘security’ frequently. As Rethinking Security publishes a new briefing on five critical security issues, Joanna Frew reflects on this election’s opportunities for creating change in understandings of security.
Reinterpreting Security through Images and Stories
After hearing how well the photovoice methods used by our Alternative Security Review research partners at Coventry University worked, Rethinking security’s Outreach Coordinator ran a similar project called Visualising Security with our supporters and friends. The results are now on our website. Here, Joanna Frew provides a personal reflection on the project and its findings. … Continue reading Reinterpreting Security through Images and Stories
The State of Human Security in the UK
Rethinking Security hosted a series of roundtable discussions with civil society groups throughout 2022. We shared some reflections on the blog during the discussions and we are now publishing the full report. It is available to download and here Joanna Frew share a summary of the discussions.
The Urgent Need to Reclaim Security – Join the discussion next week
As Rethinking Security enters the final stages of the Alternative Security Review and we look towards the publication of our Human Security Strategy for the UK, we begin a webinar series on Weds 8th Nov to explore why this is necessary and what human security looks like globally, for communities and for individuals. Read on … Continue reading The Urgent Need to Reclaim Security – Join the discussion next week
Visualising Security: Reflecting on the symbols and emotions that define security
Last week we held a launch event for our Visualising Security project. The aim of the project is, over the next 4 months, to build a collection of images and stories that challenge the conventional narrative of ‘security’ and provide evidence for our Alternative Security Review. Joanna Frew shares some reflections on the event
No Security Without Climate Security
Because they are driven by narrow concepts of security, national security strategies typically end up looking for answers to new threats in the same old places. But Germany still has a chance to do it differently. In a special article for 49Security, Joanna Frew argues for the centrality of a sustainable climate in any security strategy.
Human Security and Climate Change
Climate breakdown necessitates a paradigmatic shift in our understanding of security. Joanna Frew reflects on the challenges for redefining security to meet the challenges ahead after hearing from civil society experts on agriculture, energy and global justice.
Britannia Unglued: Elitism, inequality and abandonment in UK security policy
After another three roundtable discussions with civil society for the Alternative Security Review, some common themes emerged. Discussions on themes as diverse as poverty, democracy and foreign policy revealed an establishment insulated from much of the day-to-day insecurity and structures of exclusion that marginalise, if not abandon, millions of people in the UK.
Reflections on advocating for peace and security in Ukraine
Rethinking Security has seen an increase in interest in its resources since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began. We hope that sharing experiences from some of our members might help those who are looking to understand and share alternative perspectives on security. Joanna Frew asked members of the Rethinking Security network about the kind of issues and queries that members of the public have raised in their response to the war in Ukraine.
Searching for humane alternatives to the ‘whole society’ approach to security
In the first of a series of blog posts reflecting on our Alternative Security Review, Joanna Frew highlights some of the common themes in the first three of Rethinking Security’s roundtable discussions with civil society on human security issues.