Ontological security, self-articulation and the securitization of identity
Abstract
The concept of ontological security has made increasing headway within International Relations, in particular through its ability to offer alternative explanations of the forces underpinning security dilemmas and conflict in world politics. While welcoming the insights already provided by its application, this article argues that the concept’s use to date has been too much geared to questions of identity-related stability, with change viewed as disturbing and anxiety-inducing. In contrast, the article calls for a more open understanding that: (i) links ontological security to reflexivity and avoids collapsing together the concepts of self, identity and ontological security; (ii) avoids privileging securitization over desecuritization as a means for generating ontological security; and (iii) opens out the concept beyond a narrow concern with questions of conflict and the conduct of violence more towards the theorization of positive change.
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Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
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“This finding aligns with the theory of ontological security, which focuses on the importance of having a stable identity in a predictable world (Browning & Joenniemi, 2017; Lupovici, 2023).”
Defending the state from digital Deceit: The reflexive securitization of deepfake
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- Authors
- Browning, C. S., & Joenniemi, P.
- Affiliations
- University of Eastern Finland (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Browning, Christopher S
- Venue
- Cooperation and Conflict
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2016-07-11
- Volume
- 52
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 31-47
- ISSN
- 0010-8367 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-3691
- OpenAlex
- W2466597353
- Cited by
- 344
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 32 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 70 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 57 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2
- FWCI
- 92.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Cooperation and Conflict (publishedVersion)
- Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (acceptedVersion)
- UEF eRepo (University of Eastern Finland) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › International Relations and Foreign Policy
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Global Security and Public Health
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Global Peace and Security Dynamics
- Keywords
- ontological security, securitization, desecuritization, identity, reflexivity, self-articulation, security dilemma, positive change, identity stability
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