Security Practices and the Production of Center–Periphery Figurations in Statebuilding

Abstract

In this article, I examine the role security plays in creating a socioterritorial order in statebuilding policies. I argue that security contributes to the creation of center–periphery asymmetries, for example, through the portrayal of the center as threatened by a dangerous periphery or the periphery as disloyal and untrustworthy. In particular, I explore how security practices work in two distinct center–periphery figurations: in internal colonization, where a specific population, located within a dominant power, is subordinated; and in international intervention, where a society is internationally ruled. The article incorporates the literature on internal colonialism and international intervention from a critical security studies perspective to show how security functions as a mode of governing by creating specific center–periphery figurations in statebuilding. The overall aim is to provide a new theoretical perspective by intertwining critical security and postcolonial studies and to stimulate empirical research on the function of security as a principle of socioterritorial ordering.

The paradox of critical security and the African solutions to African problems

“…It reincarnates 'the story of the white man's burden' . 151 In the end, the post-colonial vision of African solutions gets lost at the level of operationalisation. The lack of financial capacity to support African solutions means that Africans cannot claim to be in total control of the solutions.…”

“…I juxtapose it with the critical security literature analysing the question of identity and security. I particularly draw at this point on João Nunes, 45 Myriam Dunn Cavelty, 46 Sarah Bertrand, 47 Felix Ciut ǎ , 48 Ryerson Christie, 49 Tarak Barkawi and Mark Laffey, 50 Thorsten Bonacker, 51 and Catherine Gegout. 52 I rely on several sources to discuss the three disaggregated logics of emancipation: the urgent, preferred, and desired.…”