SCALES OF SECURITY
INTERDISCIPLINARY WORKSHOP
Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland
26–27 June 2008
Click here for the workshop programme (pdf)
Click here for the workshop abstracts and papers (pdf)
THEME
In recent years, “security” has emerged as a key organizing concept of Euro-American political and economic practices. It is effectively used on multiple levels. Interventions in international crises are legimitized by the need for “homeland security.” Politicians dispute the ways in which “social security” can be achieved and maintained. Private security companies have a burgeoning market while promising to protect not only street space and commercial buildings but also private properties. Yet on another level, equity funds and insurance businesses claim that they hold the keys to personal security in future. Finally, confidence in one’s ability to perform on a high level both in private and working life can be sought by the regular use of pharmaceuticals.
It is clear that depending on the scale of perception, there is great variation in what is meant by “security.” But what if one moves between these different scales, what type of new understandings will emerge? Do the ways in which security can function as an organizing concept on these different levels depend on the other levels as well? Even if there were no evident connection between homeland security and the use of pharmaceuticals, or the perception of safety in public spaces and equity funds, it is important to unwrap the conditions that make the same term effective in various ways. Furthermore, as this concept so fundamentally seems to define the scope of the possible in the contemporary world, it is also worth asking through what types of genealogies it has attained its present position. How has “security” emerged as a keyword that is able mobilize economic actors, public institutions and private people in vastly different areas of life?
An important reason why the concept of security has become omnipresent is that it is able to mobilize other powerful techniques, practices and concepts. In all of the cases listed above, there are technologies at work that are used for calculating risk and estimating commercial value, or establishing what is “normal.” Hence the core metaphor of this workshop, “scales,” has a double meaning: in addition to denoting the aim of understanding the movement between different scales of governance, the metaphor of “scales” refers to measurement, to weighing, and to the technologies with which this measuring is done. Evidently, to become calculable and commodified, the idea of security needs to be standardized, to be reconnected to other concepts and practices that help to make it effective. How and with the help of what types of techniques, in the different problematics listed above, is the relevant knowledge concerning security established?
In order to discuss these themes, the interdisciplinary workshop will bring together international researchers who specialize in current discussions concerning security systems, insurance, risk, uncertainty and governance.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
ORGANISERS
“Family, Security and the Ethos of Welfare” -project (Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki) with the support of Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies (University of Helsinki) and “Molecular Medicine and Public Health in Finland” -project (Dept. of Sociology, University of Helsinki)
DEADLINES AND REGISTRATION
Abstracts (max. 300 words) should be sent by email by 15 May 2008 to Ms. Taina Seiro at taina.seiro(at)helsinki.fi. The papers will be precirculated. The deadline for manuscripts is 13 June 2008, and the maximum length of the papers is 6000 words. The papers should be preferably in the pdf-format and sent by email to Ms. Seiro. There will be no registration fee. All participants must register before 13 June. For registration, please contact Ms. Seiro.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Taina Seiro, Research Assistant, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Tel. +358 9 191 23762, Email: taina.seiro(at)helsinki.fi
Turo-Kimmo Lehtonen, Fellow, PhD, Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, Tel. +358 9 191 23251, Email: turo-kimmo.lehtonen(at)helsinki.fi