THE URBAN BATTLEGROUND. SECURING OPEN CITIES FROM RANDOM VIOLENCE

Abstract: European cities are facing an environment dominated by the presence of threats and their unexpected transformation into episodes of violence. Generating security and maintaining a level of trust in state institutions has become a more challenging task. Security has grown more focused in securing the domestic scene. Public safety is paramount for individuals and when public safety is contested, individuals usually respond with fear and mistrust. Securing the city means securing a way of life as the city is the main embodiment of modernity, the primary source of progress and the home of most people in Western societies. Big cities like Paris, London or New York require the permanent vigilance of a large security apparatus, focused on prevention and the reduction of risks. When citizens are forcibly turned into victims or powerless by-standers a process of reflection emerges. How can security be enhanced to avoid the modification of the lifestyle and to avoid curbing down appreciated freedoms in the West