Security culture
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Security culture is a set of practices used by activists, notably
Overview
Security culture recognizes the possibility that anarchist spaces and movements are surveilled and/or infiltrated by
The geographer Nathan L. Clough describes security culture as "a technique for cultivating a new affective structure".[3] The political scientist Sean Parson offers the following definition: "'security culture' ... includes such rules as not disclosing full names, one's activist history, or anything else that could be used to identify oneself or others to authorities. The goal of security culture is to weaken the influence of infiltrators and 'snitches,' which allows groups to more readily engage in illegal acts with less concern for arrest."[7] The media scholar Laura Portwood-Stacer defines security culture as "the norms of privacy and information control developed by anarchists in response to regular infiltration of their groups and surveillance by law enforcement personnel."[8]
Security culture does not involve abandoning confrontational political tactics, but rather eschews boasting about such deeds on the basis that doing so facilitates the targeting and conviction of anarchist activists.
Portwood-Stacer observes that security culture impacts upon research on anarchist subcultures and that, while subcultures are often resistant to observation, "the stakes are often much higher for anarchist activists, because they are a frequent target of state surveillance and repression."[8]
Features
Security culture regulates what topics can be discussed, in what context, and among whom.[9] It prohibits speaking to law enforcement, and certain media and locations are identified as security risks; the Internet, telephone and mail, individuals' homes and vehicles, and community meeting places are assumed to contain covert listening devices.[9] Security culture prohibits or discourages discussing involvement in illegal or covert activities.[9] Three exceptions, however, are drawn: discussing plans with others involved, discussing criminal activities for which one has been convicted, and discussing past actions anonymously in zines or with trusted media are permitted.[9] Robinson identifies the black bloc tactic, in which anarchists cover their faces and wear black clothing, as a component of security culture.[10] Other practices include the use of pseudonyms and "[i]nverting the gaze to inspect others' corporeality".[11] Breaches of security culture may be met by avoiding, isolating or shunning those responsible.[12]
2008 Republican National Convention
In his discussion of security culture during the protests around the
See also
Notes
- ^ Clough 2012, p. 1680.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 226.
- ^ a b c d e f Clough 2012, p. 1681.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 235.
- ^ a b Robinson 2008, p. 238.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 225.
- ^ Parson 2008, p. 66.
- ^ a b Portwood-Stacer 2013, p. 12.
- ^ a b c d Robinson 2008, p. 240.
- ^ Robinson 2008, pp. 241–2.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 242.
- ^ Robinson 2008, p. 245.
- ^ Clough 2012, p. 1682.
- ^ Clough 2012, p. 1683.
References
- Clough, Nathan L. (2012). "Emotion at the Center of Radical Politics: On the Affective Structures of Rebellion and Control". .
- Parson, Sean (2008). "Understanding the Ideology of the Earth Liberation Front". Green Theory & Praxis. 4 (2): 50–66.
- Portwood-Stacer, Laura (2013). Lifestyle Politics and Radical Activism. Bloomsbury.
- Robinson, Christine M. (2008). "Order in Chaos: Security Culture as Anarchist Resistance to the Terrorist Label". S2CID 144762570.
External links
- "What Is Security Culture?". CrimethInc. November 1, 2004.
- "Towards a Collective Security Culture". CrimethInc. 25 June 2006.
- Crockford, Kade (December 19, 2016). "Security Culture Is Good". The New Inquiry.