Contemporary Terrorist Challenges and Threats in Europe

This article generally contains two parts. One is a theoretical approach to dealing with the phenomenon of terrorism as well as international terrorism. Within the first part, a unique definition of the concept of security science is given, without which it is not possible to properly perceive or investigate security threats and risks within which terrorism is one of the significant threats. The second part deals with models of terrorist activities with special attention to the webspace and the significant role that terrorists attach to the increasing use of the Internet for their purposes. The theoretical part leads to the conclusion that there are five essential elements whose presence, if detected in one territory or state, indicates the existence of a mechanism that produces or creates new jihad warriors. The paper also gives a unique forecast of the degree of endangerment on the example of a territory, which gives scientists who investigate these threats a new direction of research.

National Interest in Security Science

The aim of this paper is a review of the conceptualization of national interest in the theoretical assumptions of realism. A review of the literature and its analysis provides an overview of the main findings of prominent realists who shaped the national interest and created a solid foundation for future research: Hans Morgentau, Raymond Aron, and Kenneth Waltz. Consequently, the scientific goals of this paper are to summarize the scope and manner of national interest’s thematization in realist’s research and, to analyze the significance of their scientific contribution to the Science of Security. National interest remains one of the most important terms in Security Science. A prudent articulation of national interests is a key factor for the security of any state, so understanding this concept is extremely important for Security Science theorists. A realistic understanding of the national interest as a key driver, but also a determinant of the behavior of states concerning other states, is still relevant today.

Security as a need and a human right

Security is a concept defined by various aspects. It depends on the terminology applied in a particular science field. It is differently specified in terms of science branches related with psychology, philosophy or sociology. Security is also defined in another way in the security science. It is specified, inter alia, as a state, a process, a good, a need or a value. However, the aim of this paper is to define security as a need and a human right. That is why below we make an attempt to answer the following questions: Can security be defined as a need and a human right? If so, who is their guarantor?

CONCEPTUAL AND CATEGORICAL APPARATUS OF SECURITY SCIENCE

Background. Security research in the field of entrepreneurial activity requires the coordination of legal, economic, managerial conceptual and categorical apparatus, necessitates the systematization of scientists’ approaches to the interpretation of basic concepts, in order to ensure effective protection. The aim of the article is to present the definition of «object of legal security of business», improving the conceptual and categorical apparatus of the science of security, the formation of theoretical foundations for business security. Materials and methods. The information base is the legislation of Ukraine, scientific research, conceptual apparatus of security science. The methodology is based on the use of general scientific and special methods. Results. We propose to distinguish the concept of «object of business security», «object of legal security of business», «subject of business security». The object of security of entrepreneurial activity, as a material category, is the enterprise itself in its various manifestations, aspects of activity. The object of business security is a set of protected legitimate interests of the enterprise (economic, informational, corporate), which are encroached upon. The classification of objects of legal security of business activity is given. Conclusion. Supporting the general position of scientists of the system approach, in this study the material (regulatory, declarative, abstract, ideal) and procedural (activity, procedural) concepts of security science are distinguished. In fact, we consider security as a material abstract phenomenon – an idealized state of security. We consider security from a procedural point of view – as an activity to achieve a state of security. Keywords: security of entrepreneurial activity, legal organization of security of entrepreneurial activity.

“The United States Cannot Afford to Lag Behind Russia”: Making the Case for an American Nuclear Icebreaker, 1957-1961

Between 1957 and 1961, members of Congress spearheaded efforts to gain authorization for the U.S. Coast Guard to construct a nuclear-powered icebreaker. This article uses congressional hearings, debates, and media coverage to conduct a frame analysis and map the arguments, themes, and stories used to convince decision-makers to build the vessel. While state competition became the central frame used by American nuclear icebreaker proponents, national security, science and technology, an uncertain future, and technical details about the existing fleet’s decline were also popular narratives. Although the push for a nuclear icebreaker enjoyed popular bi-partisan and bi-cameral support in Congress, it failed to convince a budget-conscious Eisenhower administration. De 1957 à 1961, les membres du Congrès se sont efforcés d’obtenir l’autorisation de la Garde côtière américaine de construire un brise-glace à propulsion nucléaire. À l’aide d’audiences du Congrès, de débats et de reportages dans les médias, cet article effectue une analyse de cadre et recense les arguments, les thèmes et les récits qui ont servi à convaincre les décideurs de construire le navire. Alors que les partisans américains des brise-glaces nucléaires se sont principalement fiés à la concurrence entre états comme leur cadre principal, la sécurité nationale, la science et la technologie, un avenir incertain et des détails techniques concernant le déclin de la flotte existante étaient également des conceptions populaires. Bien que la pression en faveur d’un brise-glace nucléaire ait bénéficié d’un appui populaire bipartite et bicaméral au Congrès, elle n’a pas réussi à convaincre l’administration Eisenhower soucieuse de son budget.

Security theory: Security as a multidimensional phenomenon

People have been developing and continue to make enormous efforts, energy, and resources to ensure their safety since the beginning of their existence. The security and existence of people have been interconnected since time immemorial, and the history of mankind is, to a certain extent, also the history of the struggle for its security. That is also why the term security is one of those terms that we encounter almost daily and that we use very often throughout our lives. The term itself has several different meanings and dimensions, and with the development and ongoing changes in human society it is constantly gaining new ones. This is proof not only of the fact that the development of the security agenda is in constant progress, especially in the first two decades of the 21st century, but also that the approach of politicians, political scientists, academics, soldiers, security, and other experts to security is many times very different. Based on the above, the primary goal of the author, using relevant scientific methods within interdisciplinary research, is to contribute to the development of security science and expand the theoretical and perceptual basis of security and offer readers from the professional and lay public the opportunity to get acquainted with relevant theoretical sources and approaches to researching individual dimensions of security.

Anthropology in Security Science

Security is in general closely linked to any activity of individuals and society as a whole, and bound to social relations, which are always decisive in shaping the security strategies of individual states. Security is one of the most important values of society and culture. Security and conflict resolution should be an object of the interdisciplinary approach. Socio-cultural anthropology applied in security studies is a valuable and effective source of knowledge protecting all actors. Only with a proper understanding of the operational environment with its variables and elements, it is possible to assure effective and human use of power and military decision-making tools and methods. While this paper brings the ideas of many authors, sociocultural anthropology is not that widely used in the military.

Why Security Science?

In this paper, the authors are discussing the need to introduce security sciences as a new scientific field within the existing organization of social sciences. The development of quality, usable, and functional human knowledge and skills have been guaranteed safe and undisturbed development of individuals and communities since the beginning of their existence. The development of society has led to a change of paradigms on which reflections and analyses about security, conflict and war rested. This, in turn, brings us to the situation of the need to change those paradigms of organization, principles, concepts, and theories of security as a new scientific discipline that should enable the continuation of safe and unhindered development of human society.

The Conflict Theory as a Pillar of Security Science

Research on conflict theory has developed rapidly, particularly in the last 15 years. This note provides an overview of conflict theory utilizing a cross-classification, wherein such research is classified both by analytic approaches and by areas of application. The note also presents an extensive bibliography of publications in conflict theory. This contribution tries to present introductions to conflict theory as a pillar of security science and ist importance to the national and international level today. The goal of this contribution presents the background for the next theoretical analysis of conflicts, methods employed to resolve them, and how they may be prevented. The work is an introduction to these issues. It attempts to include a wide range of topics dealt with by the study of conflict resolution and prevention. The included deeper analysis of the issue of conflict prevention is a key part of the work. Emphasis is put on the theory and practice of conflicts, due to the importance of conflict escalation prevention in the pre-conflict phase, the phase of conflict transformation, and during the process of post-conflict reconstruction.