Discovering nation security quiz
On a national scale how concerned/worried are you about:
1- not at all worried or concerned 3-somewhat worried/concerned 5-very worried/concerned
Terrorism (home grown or abroad)
1 2 3 4 5
Cyber Security
1 2 3 4 5
Water and/or Food Security
1 2 3 4 5
Conflict with Russia
1 2 3 4 5
Conflict with China
1 2 3 4 5
Alien invasion from outer-space
1 2 3 4 5
Immigration issues
1 2 3 4 5
Religious influence in our government
1 2 3 4 5
Global warming
1 2 3 4 5
Disease outbreak
1 2 3 4 5
Ebola
1 2 3 4 5
Any other points of concern or worry?
Congratulations! You just helped define issues of national security based on your own perceptions! Now, have a friend take the quiz and see if you get the same answers.
Different results of the quiz are normal. What is considered an issue of national security is just as malleable to a person's personal lens as what route is most desirable to take home. Although there is basis for reasoning, in the end the 'security' is a matter of opinion with plenty of alternatives. In essence, I believe this to be a good thing. There are so many factors nowadays that can effect citizen's livelihood that if security was put in a more restrictive box, it is nearly ensured that a factor will be overlooked. Having a direction for policy initiatives decided by the current perceptions around national security, as Wolfers puts it, is important for the order of the government. When has a project or organization ever been successful without some basis of a plan, purpose, and direction? Whether you agree with the security issues and solutions outlined in this week's readings, having that direction and breadth focus is far better than none at all, or a much more restricted one that ignores potentially important issues.
Xandra, as always I'm so impressed by the ways in which you get your main idea across is such interesting ways! I completely agree that perception is what add the malleability to national security and how that is also what triggers such different issues to be encompassed under the same umbrella of security. A point you touched on and a question I have when thinking of this blog is based on the limitations of national security. There are countless routes home, but ultimately there will no longer be any more options... do you think there is a point of limitation for what could be perceived as a national security matter, or can essentially any issue be argued to be categorized within national security, given the right perception?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I am a big believer that ANYTHING could be argued as an issue of national security. I could be completely ridiculous, but there is still an argument for.
ReplyDelete