The Securitisation of the United Kingdom's Maritime Infrastructure During
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The securitisation of the United Kingdom’s maritime infrastructure during the ‘war on terror’ James A. Malcolm A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Politics and International Studies University of Warwick, Department of Politics and International Studies September 2011 Table of Contents List of Figures, Tables and Images..........................................................................iii Acknowledgements................................................................................................. iv Declaration...............................................................................................................v Abstract....................................................................................................................vi List of Abbreviations................................................................................................vii Introduction - Counter-terrorism and the United Kingdom’s maritime infrastructure...........................................................................................................1 The study...................................................................................................................1 Contribution...............................................................................................................5 Central argument........................................................................................................7 Thesis structure..........................................................................................................10 Chapter One – Reorienting towards the ‘post-securitised environment’: utilising the Copenhagen School’s securitisation theory as an analytical framework................................................................................................................14 Introduction................................................................................................................14 Contextualising the Copenhagen School’s securitisation theory...............................17 The Copenhagen School............................................................................................28 The Copenhagen School’s securitisation theory........................................................32 The speech act........................................................................34 A securitising move................................................................35 Securitisation – a successful securitising move......................38 Macrosecuritisation and security constellations.....................40 Reorienting securitisation theory towards the ‘post-securitised environment’..........43 The Copenhagen School’s securitisation theory and its critics..................................51 The case study – the securitisation of the UK’s maritime infrastructure...................60 Research methods and sources...................................................................................70 Conclusion..................................................................................................................74 Chapter Two – Contextualising the case study: the ‘war on terror’ and the emergence of the ISPS code.....................................................................................78 Introduction................................................................................................................78 The construction of the ‘war on terror’ discourse of counter-terrorism.....................82 The ‘war on terror’ in the UK.....................................................................................90 The securitisation of UK maritime infrastructure during the ‘war on terror’ ..........107 Conclusion................................................................................................................126 i Chapter Three – From introduction to institutionalisation: the next phase in implementation.......................................................................................................131 Introduction..............................................................................................................131 Resistance and reiteration – the stability of the ‘war on terror’ discourse...............135 UK maritime infrastructure as a ‘site of securitisation’...........................................144 UK maritime infrastructure – the post-securitised environment..............................150 Legislation and regulations..................................................156 Institutional changes and infrastructure developments........164 Working practices................................................................167 Conclusion...............................................................................................................185 Chapter Four – Beyond the ISPS code: securing UK maritime infrastructure after the London 2005 terrorist attacks................................................................192 Introduction..............................................................................................................192 Reflection and renewal – the ‘war on terror’ after the London 2005 terrorist attacks.......................................................................................................................197 UK maritime infrastructure as a ‘site of securitisation’...........................................212 UK maritime infrastructure – the post-securitised environment.............................220 Legislation and regulations..................................................224 Institutional changes and infrastructure developments........232 Working practices................................................................241 Conclusion...............................................................................................................247 Chapter Five – Staying the course: securing UK maritime infrastructure after Blair.........................................................................................................................255 Introduction..............................................................................................................255 New Prime Minister, little change – Gordon Brown and the ‘war on terror’.........258 UK maritime infrastructure as a ‘site of securitisation’..........................................271 UK maritime infrastructure – the post-securitised environment.............................278 Legislation and regulations.................................................280 Institutional changes and infrastructure developments.......285 Working practices...............................................................295 Conclusion..............................................................................................................306 Conclusion – Continuity and change: the securitisation of UK maritime infrastructure during the ‘war on terror’...........................................................313 The thesis’ argument...............................................................................................313 Key findings............................................................................................................321 Future research avenues..........................................................................................341 Appendix A – Interview Strategy........................................................................346 Appendix B – Project Kraken member survey..................................................348 Bibliography...........................................................................................................353 ii Figures, Tables and Images Figure 1 - The securitisation process..................................................... 49 & 322 Figure 2 - Terrorist Risk Factors from Shipping............................................115 Figure 3 – The spatial dimension to securitisation.........................................334 Table 1 – The TRANSEC approach to compliance........................................170 Image 1 – Security level sign..........................................................................173 Image 2 – Port security poster........................................................................175 Image 3 – Port personnel search.....................................................................181 Image 4 – Port vehicle search.........................................................................182 Image 5 – Port entry/exit point.......................................................................182 Image 6 – Big Mac..........................................................................................222 Image 7 - Project Kraken paraphernalia.........................................................302 Image 8 – Coast Watch branding....................................................................302 Image 9 – Project Kraken poster.....................................................................305 iii Acknowledgements Writing this PhD thesis has been a time consuming, yet rewarding experience. I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to spend a number of years reading, thinking, discussing and writing about issues that interest me. I am particularly grateful to the Department of Politics and International Studies here at Warwick for having the faith in me to offer an ESRC scholarship. I also want to thank my PhD colleagues, too numerous