Alternatives of security

The classic conception of security considers national sovereignty, territorial integrity, and public order as the main assets to be protected against internal and external threats. Under this paradigm, the state conducts a risk analysis and pursues its security by increasing its political, police and military dominance. The most important public security policies have emerged from this notion and are mainly based on reactive and punitive frameworks for social control and armed action. These strategies are inefficient because they do not address the causes of conflicts or aim at their transformation. Paradoxically, they reinforce the culture of violence they seek to reduce.

This action line aims to build an alternative discourse to the prevailing conception of security by disseminating the strategies and tools that feminism and pacifism provide to address conflict. In particular, ICIP seeks to rethink security from a human and environmental perspective.

Ongoing projects

Working group on public security in Catalonia

Since 2021, the ICIP has promoted and coordinated a working group on security in public policies in Catalonia.

This group was born with the desire to facilitate an exchange of experiences and an inclusive analysis with social and institutional actors.

Its current work is to create spaces for shared reflection with police forces and other strategic security actors in Catalonia.

The relevance and viability of a review of the police and security model, based on the culture of peace, human rights and alternative management and conflict transformation, is analyzed through meetings and workshops.

Composition:

  • Coordination: Sandra Martínez
  • Members: Noemí Ayguasenosa, consultant and trainer; Nora Miralles, researcher.
Workshop "Tools for human security management" with police forces (Manresa, 2021)

Study Commission on the Police Model

ICIP has participated, at the request of the Parliament of Catalonia, in the Study Commission on the Police Model of the Catalan Chamber, whose objective is to debate politically and publicly the current public order model and face the new challenges in terms of security and transparency requirements.

To analyze various police models with international comparisons and to review the functions and organization that a democratic police force of the 21st century should have, the Study Commission on the Police Model has had the appearance of specialists from Catalonia and the international arena and also with the documentation, in writing, of different institutions that address security from different perspectives, including ICIP.

You can consult the ICIP recommendations at this link (in Catalan).

Project “Women, peace, security and dialogue in Latin America”

ICIP joined forces in 2020 with organizations from Colombia and Mexico to jointly develop the project “Women’s Perspectives and Alternatives on Security Challenges in Latin America.”

This strategic alliance aims to contribute to the construction of peace in Latin America, the Caribbean and their diasporas, from a feminist perspective and through the generation of knowledge, innovation and critical collective action on security and dialogue.

Its principal activities aim to create spaces for reflection, learn with local women leaders, and develop a Feminist School.

The initiative is also working on the creation of a Latin American Network of Women, Peace and Security.

International strategic work meeting (Villa de Leyva, Colombia, 2021)
Last update: 07/07/2023