DIFFiCULTIES FOR THE CONCEPTUALIZATION OF SECURITY AND DEFENSE

Abstract

The purpose of this essay is to assist to make clear the current confusion when conceptualizing Security and Defense, a fact that impacts the production of educational plans and programs in this issues, taking at the same time a position regarding these concepts. In fact, one of the reasons in the theoretical arena of this difficulty is the existence of a grey zone between each of them, that impacts the security planning process that somehow looses its most important feature, that is, to be clear, precise and focused.

To achieve this objective, a relationship between democracy and security is settled, and then differences between both of them will be established. After that, an analysis between “real security” and the one perceived, as well as between effects and conditions will be done in order to conclude that National Security integrates the different sectors’ securities and is vital for the prevailing of the State and its citizens, while citizen security is oriented toward the individuals and must not be confused with National Security. Also, that Defense is another sector of Security, and finally that governments must understood that there will be an space between the current situation or objective security and the perception of how the people believe to live.