FREEDOM AND SECURITY IN THE CHANGING TIMES

Abstract

We live in exceptionally dangerous times. The state is being weakened and indignified and
the citizens are facing greater existential challenges because of what Mary Kaldor calls
‘the new wars’. These wars are associated with state weakness, extremist identity politics
and transnational criminality. Furthermore, the rise of Trumpian version of nationalism
and national interest and emergence of populist absolutist regimes and trends in a
number of countries are attacking the very foundation of the liberal, progressive,
democratic state. The solution being enthusiastically offered is rapid development and
expanded security at the cost of freedoms. It seems as if the world has reached a stage
where it has to respond to a fundamental question: does a state attain greater degree of
security by reducing freedom or does it make itself more insecure by doing so? This paper
attempts to answer this question.