Essay
Security challenges in a globalizing world. Final paper
- Course
- Institution
this paper analyzes the manifest "The Great Replacement" by Brenton Tarrant, the man responsible for the Christchurch shootings.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
mauritshorst
Reviews received
Content preview
Leiden UniversityCrisis and Security Management: Intelligence and National Security
Dr. J. van Buuren
Wordcount: 3124 (incl. in-text references)
, 2
Introduction
Using an ontological security lens, this paper analyzes the manifest "The Great Replacement"
by Brenton Tarrant, the man responsible for the Christchurch shootings. The main objective
of this study is to provide an answer to the central question: To what extent can the
Christchurch-shootings be explained by the perpetrator’s sense of ontological insecurity,
based on his manifest The Great Replacement?
The analysis of the manifest is part of a broader attempt to read complex interactions of
actors and communities with significant alterations in society in which their sense of
ontological (in)security is constructed. In this intricate societal web the perception of security
of lone actors, such as Tarrant, is naturally formed by prevailing political and cultural
discourses. Therefore, this study ties together the cognitive, social, and political aspects that
are integrated into the conceptual understanding of ontological security.
In the following section, the literature review lays the theoretical groundwork required
for the selection of the drivers. The third section then presents these drivers of ontological
security including their operationalization and rationalization based on the literature. The
analysis section reveals the extent the selected drivers were part of the sense of ontological
insecurity displayed by Tarrant in the manifest. In the last section, this paper presents an
answer to the main research question that synthesizes the analysis’s main elements. In the
conceptual framework of ontological security, the conclusion simultaneously aims to indicate
the wider significance of the case analysis and to critically engage with the reviewed
literature.
, 3
Literature review
Existential anxiety
Existential anxiety, as defined by Kinnvall and Mitzen (2020, p. 244), signifies an abstract
feeling of worry that arises regardless of an identified threat. The variety of emotions and
actions due to their multifaceted nature makes it difficult for political leaders to securitize the
sense of anxiety (Ibid, p.247). On the contrary, the emotions associated with fear can be
impartially objectified, making the politics of fear an appealing strategy to accomplish
political objectives (Browning, 2018a, p.337). The main consequence is that the politics of
fear point to physical security rather than addressing the foundational existential anxiety,
risking leaving people in a state of ontological insecurity (Kinnvall & Mitzen, 2020, p.244).
This ontological insecurity is deeply linked to human nature and is something that
individuals must learn to manage throughout their lives (Kinnvall & Mitzen, 2020, p.246).
The emphasis on stability, as highlighted by Kinnvall and Mitzen (2020), can sometimes be
misconstrued to enforce a “status quo bias” (p.240), preventing constructive change. Jervis
(2019), therefore reinforces the added value of vernacular security, which does not adhere to
a universal conceptualization of security and instead focuses on context-specific studies to
contextualize how individuals and communities construct security.
Ontological Security: The Management of Existential Anxiety
The lens of ontological security was founded on the psychoanalytical approach by Robert D.
Laing in The Divided Self to conceptualize how the constitution of the Self relates to one's
management of existential anxiety (Rossdale, 2015, p.3). According to Laing (2010), to
maintain a solid sense of ontological security, one entrusts on the established affirmation of
one's subjective sense of Self (ibid, p.42). In a dynamic society in which confrontation with
change and unpredictability is imminent, consistency and predictability grant a social actor
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller mauritshorst. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $6.97. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
71498 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now
Recently viewed by you
