In 1952, Arnold Wolfers, one of the more prominent international studies scholars in the early days of the field, published an essay in Political Science Quarterly entitled “National Security As An Ambiguous Symbol.” In that essay, he argued that
In a very vague and general way “national interest” does suggest a direction of policy which can be distinguished from several others presenting themselves as alternatives. It indicates that the policy is designed to promote demands that are ascribed to the nation rather than to individuals, subnational groups, or mankind [sic, sexism in original] as a whole. It emphasizes that the policy subordinates other interests to those of the nation. But beyond this, it has very little meaning.
Wolfers goes on to argue that what is true of the notion of the national interest is equally true of the notion of national security: both are vague concepts, indicating a direction rather than any concrete set of policies. One consequence that follows from this observation would be that in a sense, “national security” can mean whatever one wants it to mean, and in principle anything can be an issue of national security.
Is Wolfers correct? Is the notion of “national security” more or less infinitely malleable? Can anything be a “security” issue? Should security be defined as broadly as that, or should we operate with a more narrow definition? As you ponder, please feel free to bounce off of the readings assigned for this week, all of which speak to this issue in some way.
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