liberalism

This understanding of state security is underpinned by the perception that the national community and its political order is valuable, in and of itself, since it is only within the natural encompassing framework of various cultural traditions that important meanings and values are produced and transmitted. The members of such communities may share special cultural proximity to each other. By speaking the same language and sharing various customs and traditions, the members of these communities may be typically closer to one another in various ways than they are to those who don’t share the culture. The community, thereby, becomes a network of morally connected agents with strong ties of obligation. Thus, it is often claimed that the national community is essential for each of its members to flourish. Given that an individual’s sense of identity depends, at least in part, on the notion that he is part of an organic community, the communal conditions which foster the development of such personal identity should be preserved and encouraged. Such thinking may be associated with the ideals of patriotism.

The definition of patriotism found in a dictionary reads ‘love of ones country’. Whilst this captures the core meaning of the term in its ordinary use, it might well need to be fleshed out. Stephen Nathanson defines patriotism as involving: special affection for one’s own country; a sense of personal identification with the country; special concern for the well-being of the country; and willingness to sacrifice to promote the country’s good. It seems then that patriotism involves pride in, or endorsement of, ones country’s virtues. However, Keller has argued that the patriots love and loyalty are not focused on her countr...

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...d to protect society as a whole, many such measures can potentially restrict the rights and freedoms of individuals in society. Thus, some thinkers may express concerns that where the exercise of national security and powers is not subject to ‘good’ governance; the rule of law and strict legal or constitutional checks and balances, there is a risk that national security may simply serve as a pretext for suppressing unfavourable political and social views. Taken to its logical conclusion, this view contends that measures which may ostensibly serve a national security purpose, such as surveillance, and law enforcement mechanisms, could ultimately lead to an Orwellian dystopia. Thus, tension exists between the preservation of the state, in the sense of maintaining political stability, self-determination and sovereignty, and the rights and freedoms of individual.