Content area
Full Text
Introduction
The security industry incorporates diverse and multi-disciplined actors, originating and practicing across many disciplines. This multidimensional nature of security results in both a society and industry that has no clear understanding of a definition for the concept of security. Moreover, the current concept of security is so broad as to be impracticable (Manunta and Manunta, 2006). However, concept definition may be achieved once we gain understanding of an appropriate and relevant security body of knowledge. In addition, it is proposed that security can only achieve definition through applied context and concept definition (Brooks, 2007).
The Need to Understand the Concept of Security
Exposure to terrorist attacks in many parts of the world (London, 2005; Jakarta, 2004; Russia, 2004; Spain, 2004; Bali, 2002 and New York, 2001) has raised social concern over the ability of governments to protect its citizens. For example, the 2002 Bali attacks touched all Australians, resulting in the Federal Government committing an additional A$3.1 billion to deal with the terrorist threat (Howard, 2004). In Europe, a billion Euro coherent strategy was developed to coordinate military and civilian research in security-related projects (Horvath, 2004).
However security is to a degree an undefined term (Tate, 1997), as the security industry is broad and multidisciplined in nature (Hesse and Smith, 2001), with heterogeneous occupations. Current international politics has further broadened the definition of security, in both a national and international perspective. It has been proposed that security requires shared meaning (Manunta, 1999), although this is capricious (ASIS International, 2003, pp. 9-11) and with no universal agreement (Fischer and Green, 2004).
Defining the Concept of Security
Security may be considered as assured freedom from poverty or want, precautions taken to ensure against theft, espionage or a person or thing that secures or guarantees (Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus , 1992). According to Fischer and Green, 'security implies a stable, relatively predictable environment in which an individual or group may pursue its ends without disruption or harm and without fear of such disturbance or injury' (2004, p. 21). A traditional definition of security may be the provision of private services in the protection of people, information and assets for individual safety or community wellness (Craighead, 2003). In addition, private or commercial security may be...