Security-defence nexus in flux: (De)securitisation of technology in the Netherlands

Abstract

ABSTRACT The contemporary defence sector is dominated by dual-use technologies which have both military and civilian applications. The trade of these technologies is governed by export controls. Designation of technologies as “dual-use” and export control regimes can be considered as securitisation of such technologies. Securitisation refers to the discursive construction of existential threats. This article seeks to understand which actors desire securitisation or its opposite, desecuritisation, of technology. The contribution of this research is twofold. Firstly, securitisation of technology has implications for understanding defence and security in contemporary Europe. Secondly, identifying the actors involved in (de)securitisation allows for the analysis of their different roles in determining security discourses around technologies. The article builds on the literature on securitisation theory. Then it explores the EU-level export control regimes and afterwards focuses on a single case study of the Netherlands both as representative of smaller European states with an SME-heavy defence sector and as an example of an expanded export control regime by a member state. To conduct the analysis, I use the data obtained through a workshop with representatives of Dutch defence companies as well as a survey that has been answered by security and defence experts.