The ‘value’ of positive security

Abstract

This article seeks to revise the concept of Positive Security. Although largely neglected by the existing Security Studies literature, Bill McSweeney’s work otherwise represents a significant contribution in this regard. The author argues, however, that although of great value, McSweeney’s positive security formulation is unduly restrictive in terms of the referent object and to the sectors of security it is applicable to, and cannot unproblematically be equated to ontological security, as McSweeney’s work tends to do. Employing Graham Smith’s notion of a ‘generic’ security conception, and placing positive security more firmly in the peace studies tradition, the author suggests rather that a revised concept be predicated on the defence of ‘just’ values.