Wands, Words, Security Spells: Resonance and Popular Culture in Securitization

• In Event: Ideas and Rhetoric in IR

Abstract

Why do some securitizing moves succeed while others fail? While much has been written on the mechanics of securitization, one rather untouched territory is the issue of resonance – the ability of the securitizing actor to make their claims in a way that resonates with the target audience. This paper explores the use of popular culture references by policymakers when delivering speech acts, with the claim that those uses go beyond simply being stylistic: 1) the figures, ideas, troupes from popular culture are both reflective of political society and also influential upon political society; 2) leaders are consciously and carefully trying to situate a security claim drawing on from those totems; and 3) those references are boundary markers, as they not only identify target audiences, but also situate policymakers vis-à-vis that audience.

Author

• Renato Fakhoury