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Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management pp 1–3Cite as

Security: Concepts and Definitions

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Definition

The measures taken to prevent, or respond to, criminal behavior.

Introduction

The concept of security literally refers to “a state of being free from danger or threat” (Oxford Dictionary). This is a very broad definition, and the word security is therefore used in different ways in different contexts. It may refer to a state of being free from many kinds of dangers and threats (e.g., war, unemployment, illness, or accidents). Some commentators have identified the fact that when security is used in this broad way, what is actually meant is insecurity (see, e.g., Schuilenburg and Van Steden 2014). In this context, it is important to point out the difference between “security from” (shielding from harm) and “security to” (enabling people to pursue their goals) (Crawford and Hutchinson 2016).

Security as a Contested Concept

Security as a concept is highly contested: there seems to be little agreement over its meaning (Crawford and Hutchinson 2016). Contributing to this...

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References

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  • Rose, N. (1999). Powers of freedom: Reframing political thought. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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  • Schuilenburg, M. (2015). The securitization of society. Crime, risk, and social order. New York: New York University Press.

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  • Schuilenburg, M., & Van Steden, R. (2014). Positive security. A theoretical framework. In M. Schuilenburg, R. van Steden, & B. Oude Breuil (Eds.), Positive criminology. Reflections on care, belonging and security (pp. 19–32). The Hague: Eleven International Publishing.

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Further Reading

  • Beck, U. (1992). Risk society: Towards a new modernity. London: Sage.

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  • Garland, D. (2001). The culture of control; Crime and social order in contemporary society. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schuilenburg, M. (2015). The securitization of society. Crime, risk, and social order. New York: New York University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wood, J., & Dupont, B. (Eds.). Democracy, society and the governance of security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

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  • Wood, J., & Shearing, C. (2007). Imagining security. Devon: Willan Publishing.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of law, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Clarissa Meerts

Authors
  1. Clarissa Meerts
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Correspondence to Clarissa Meerts .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Security, Fire & Emergency Mgmt, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, USA

    Lauren R. Shapiro

  2. Dept. of Security, Fire & Emergency Mgmt, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, USA

    Marie-Helen Maras

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Meerts, C. (2018). Security: Concepts and Definitions. In: Shapiro, L., Maras, MH. (eds) Encyclopedia of Security and Emergency Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_94-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_94-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-69891-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-69891-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Law and CriminologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences

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Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Security: Concepts and Definitions
    Published:
    12 November 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_94-2

  2. Original

    Security: Concepts and Definitions
    Published:
    31 August 2018

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69891-5_94-1

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