Author(s): Irena CHIRU
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: December 31, 2016
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 16/2016
DOI:
Abstract
The majority of scientific contributions coming from interrelated disciplines
such as psychology, communication sciences, and sociology argue that people generally
use personal frames to interpret and give meaning to reality, in other words perceptions
“have a reality of their own.” Thus, the existing literature promotes the idea that there
are “realities” (which means that the idea of “correctness” applied to reality is
erroneous), while the objectivity and fairness are excluded as reference criteria. By
translating this conclusion into the national security framework, it becomes obvious that
each social actor approaches security in accordance with their own references,
establishing alternative or different meanings.
In this context, by assuming the subjective dimension of security and the
importance of individual perceptions in the definition of security risks, any attempt to
develop a national security culture must address the challenge of “reconciling”
individual perceptions of security risks with the way specialised institutions with
responsibilities in the field of national security understand risk. At the same time, by
analysing social perceptions, the article aims at identifying potential solutions for a
better social insertion of the complex doctrinal-strategic definitions of national
security risks.
Keywords: risk, perception, security culture, subjectivity, realities, risk.
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