The Only Thing We Have to Fear: Post 9/11 Institutionalization of In-security

Abstract

During the last decade, billions of dollars have been spent to increase security measures in the United States. New institutions, including a department for homeland security, have been established, new security tools have been developed, and surveillance of Americans has been increased. However, despite the creation of ‘safety zones,’ neither the level of the Americans’ feeling of security from further terrorist attacks, nor their confidence in the ability of US governments to prevent attacks, has seen an increase. According to Beck, who introduced the concepts of ‘world risk society’ and ‘reflexive modernity’, terrorism is one of the products of reflexive modernity which cannot be addressed by traditional security measures. Within this framework, this paper analyzes the case of the Americans since 9/11 attacks. In this vein, it is argued that the gap which has arisen as a result of addressing non-territory and non-state-based terrorism through state-based security measures has caused a continuation of a high level of insecurity, fear, and anxiety among the Americans.

Keywords

World Risk Society, Reflexive Modernity, Security, Fear, 9/11 Attacks.

Citation

Çelikpala, Mitat and Öztürk, Duygu, "The Only Thing We Have to Fear: Post 9/11 Institutionalization of In-security", International Relations, Volume 8, No 32 (Winter 2012), p. 49-65.

Affiliations

• Mitat Çelikpala, Assoc. Prof. Dr., Kadir Has University, Department of International Relations
• Duygu Öztürk, PhD. Candidate, Bilkent University, Department of Political Science