The Paradox of Security Regulation: Public Protection Versus Normative Legitimation

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Paradox of Security Regulation

T2 - Public Protection Versus Normative Legitimation

AU - Smith, Martin J.

AU - White, Adam

PY - 2014/7

Y1 - 2014/7

N2 - The growth of domestic private security in advanced democratic countries has resulted in a paradox. While the market is seen to provide a solution to the inefficient production of a key public service, it simultaneously challenges the liberal belief in a universal and publicly guaranteed social order. The argument of this article is twofold: first, that this paradox has created tensions within the sphere of regulatory governance; and second, that these tensions have given rise to a distinctive politics of security regulation. Through this argument, the article makes important new connections between the security governance and regulation literatures.

AB - The growth of domestic private security in advanced democratic countries has resulted in a paradox. While the market is seen to provide a solution to the inefficient production of a key public service, it simultaneously challenges the liberal belief in a universal and publicly guaranteed social order. The argument of this article is twofold: first, that this paradox has created tensions within the sphere of regulatory governance; and second, that these tensions have given rise to a distinctive politics of security regulation. Through this argument, the article makes important new connections between the security governance and regulation literatures.

KW - Private security

KW - Regulation

KW - Public good

KW - Legitimacy

U2 - 10.1332/030557312X655495

DO - 10.1332/030557312X655495

M3 - Article

SN - 0305-5736

VL - 42

SP - 421

EP - 437

JO - Policy and Politics

JF - Policy and Politics

IS - 3

ER -