The study of desecuritization: A meta-study

Abstract

Securitization theory has introduced a different outlook to security studies by providing an alternative view to think about and study security. Moving away from the traditional security assumptions that suggest threats exist out there waiting to be addressed, securitization theory argues that security is a speech act that comes into being through utterance. Securitization and desecuritization are two ends of a security continuum in which threats are addressed by extraordinary measures above normal politics or through normal political measures. Even though securitization and desecuritization are formulated together, the literature heavily focuses on securitization and its empirical applications. Therefore, desecuritization remains understudied compared to securitization. This thesis provided a meta-study on desecuritization. It presented the theoretical and empirical work on desecuritization discussed in the literature. The thesis focused on the Copenhagen School framework of desecuritization to illustrate the evolution of the ideas and different empirical applications of desecuritization. Using a meta-study approach that synthesizes and integrates past research on desecuritization, the thesis reflected on the broader conclusions and identified different patterns within the field of study. It also emphasized the critiques and contributions within and outside of the Copenhagen school to locate the aspects that need additional attention in desecuritization studies.