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The Global Illusion of Citizen Protection

Transnational Threats and Human Security

Robert Mandel

This book comprehensively analyzes the global illusion of citizen protection so common today. This text helps students understand a central puzzle in human security, which has two distinct components: (1) although it might be reasonable to assume that political leaders’ threat responses would almost always have a decent chance of safeguarding the mass public, sometimes they do not, exhibiting rhetoric-reality gaps and purely symbolic gestures; and (2) although the wealth of security information available to the mass public would seem to provide them with the opportunity to gain almost always an accurate picture of existing dangers and state threat responses, sometimes citizens’ evaluation of their own safety is grossly distorted, exhibiting an overly extreme sense of helplessness about ongoing threat and an overly extreme sense of skepticism about state protection.
At first glance, it is difficult to comprehend fully why states would often select ineffective means of protecting their citizens (assuming the availability of other options) when it appears that there are incentives for them to choose effective ones, particularly within societies with responsive forms of government; and why citizens would often mischaracterize their own security predicament when they have a direct “on-the-ground” view of their plight and seem to have incentives to view their own safety accurately.
In exploring these puzzles through detailed international case study analysis, this text investigation consciously deviates from some prevailing orthodox assumptions. It call into question the desirability of the political centrality of state authority and of the prevailing economic and cultural norms in today’s world, opening up serious questions about when and how existing structures and values contribute to increasing rather than decreasing human insecurity for the average world citizen.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Rowman & Littlefield International

Pages: 290 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-78660-807-9 • Hardback • July 2018 • $154.00 • (£119.00)

978-1-78660-808-6 • Paperback • July 2018 • $57.00 • (£44.00)

978-1-78660-809-3 • eBook • July 2018 • $54.00 • (£42.00)

Subjects: Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, Political Science / History & Theory, Political Science / Security (National & International)

Courses: Political Science; International Relations; Security, Political Science; Security; International Security, Political Science; Security; U.S. National & Homeland Security

The Global Illusion of Citizen Protection

Transnational Threats and Human Security

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

This book comprehensively analyzes the global illusion of citizen protection so common today. This text helps students understand a central puzzle in human security, which has two distinct components: (1) although it might be reasonable to assume that political leaders’ threat responses would almost always have a decent chance of safeguarding the mass public, sometimes they do not, exhibiting rhetoric-reality gaps and purely symbolic gestures; and (2) although the wealth of security information available to the mass public would seem to provide them with the opportunity to gain almost always an accurate picture of existing dangers and state threat responses, sometimes citizens’ evaluation of their own safety is grossly distorted, exhibiting an overly extreme sense of helplessness about ongoing threat and an overly extreme sense of skepticism about state protection.
At first glance, it is difficult to comprehend fully why states would often select ineffective means of protecting their citizens (assuming the availability of other options) when it appears that there are incentives for them to choose effective ones, particularly within societies with responsive forms of government; and why citizens would often mischaracterize their own security predicament when they have a direct “on-the-ground” view of their plight and seem to have incentives to view their own safety accurately.
In exploring these puzzles through detailed international case study analysis, this text investigation consciously deviates from some prevailing orthodox assumptions. It call into question the desirability of the political centrality of state authority and of the prevailing economic and cultural norms in today’s world, opening up serious questions about when and how existing structures and values contribute to increasing rather than decreasing human insecurity for the average world citizen.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers / Rowman & Littlefield International

Pages: 290 • Trim: 6¼ x 9½

978-1-78660-807-9 • Hardback • July 2018 • $154.00 • (£119.00)

978-1-78660-808-6 • Paperback • July 2018 • $57.00 • (£44.00)

978-1-78660-809-3 • eBook • July 2018 • $54.00 • (£42.00)

Subjects: Political Science / Civics & Citizenship, Political Science / History & Theory, Political Science / Security (National & International)

Courses: Political Science; International Relations; Security, Political Science; Security; International Security, Political Science; Security; U.S. National & Homeland Security

Author

Robert Mandel is Professor of International Affairs, Lewis & Clark College (he has published 13 books and over 40 articles and book chapters on conflict and security issues, testified before the United States Congress and worked for several American intelligence agencies).

Table of Contents

Introduction / I. Human Security: Predicaments and Paradoxes / 1. Today’s Global Human Security Predicament / 2. Paradoxes Surrounding State Protection of Citizens / 3. Futile Fear-Based State Threat Responses / 4. Distorted Fear-Based Citizen Safety Images / II. Global Case Studies about the Illusion of Protection / 5.1951 American Nuclear Bomb Attack Threat / 6. 1995 American Foreign Conventional Arms Sales Threat / 7. 1997-Present Argentine Societal Crime Spike Threat / 8. 2001-2003 American Terrorist Threat / 9. 2002-Present Global Infectious Toxic Disease Threat / 10. 2011 Japanese Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Meltdown Threat / 11. 2012-Present European Mass Refugee Influx Threat / 12. 2013-Present Global ISIS Violence Threat / 13. 2013-Present Global Cyberattack Threat / 14. 2015 Global Climate Change Threat / III. Toward Better Citizen Protection / 15. Case Analysis and Emerging Patterns / 16. Obstacles to Reducing Citizen Insecurity / 17. Enhancing Genuine Citizen Protection / Conclusion

Reviews

Robert Mandel has written a thought-provoking and highly topical study of some of the most important security questions of our time. Revisiting the tensions between the transnational and national, he points to the difficulties of substantially protecting citizens but also discusses proper responses to increase trust between state and society.
— Magnus Christiansson, Stockholm University, Swedish Defence University

Features

First book to include diverse global case studies illustrating the assumptions, challenges and illusion of citizen protection

Integrates both government and citizen deficiencies in contributing to mass public safety problems

Describes concrete policy recommendations for both government officials and private citizens to improve mass public safety

The Global Illusion of Citizen Protection

Transnational Threats and Human Security

Robert Mandel

The Global Illusion of Citizen Protection

Transnational Threats and Human Security

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