Global warming, the coronavirus pandemic, the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine – in recent years, one crisis has been followed by another. What does this mean for our security? The new issue of acatech HORIZONS examines how we can find security in a world of upheaval, how we can objectively grasp such a subjective feeling as security and why risk can also be an opportunity – in a clear, understandable and science-based way.
Issues that affect our safety and thus a basic human need are becoming increasingly relevant. Arms issues, the dangers of climate change, disinformation and deep fakes are just a few examples. However, each of us perceives safety and threats differently. The new issue of acatech HORIZONS helps to objectify the debate with concise graphics and comprehensible language. The publication explains why safety is a question of perspective, how it can nevertheless be made objectively tangible and why this is important.
Citizens should have basic statistical knowledge so that they can better understand and classify life risks and weigh them up against each other and the costs of avoiding them.”
Prof. Dr. Christoph M. Schmidt, President of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and project group leader of the current issue of HORIZONS
Insurance companies and businesses often use a risk matrix to assess risks based on their likelihood and potential impact (damage), offering valuable guidance.
From everyday life to Zeitenwende
The new HORIZONS issue goes from the small to the large and from personal everyday life to world events. It illustrates the difference between “safety” and “security”, which is not only important in the digital world.
The HORIZONS issue deals with the digital pitfalls of everyday life in the smart home or in medicine when it comes to sensitive health data. It also describes how climate change is affecting the availability of food and how we can ensure that our food supply is just as safe as the roads we drive on, the tunnels we pass through and the buildings in which we live and work.
The issue broadens our view of the trade-off between freedom and security. The example of facial recognition makes it clear that these are constantly coming into conflict with each other. In our private lives, many of us use facial recognition to quickly unlock our cell phones, for example. When it comes to the use of facial recognition by the state, however, many of us feel uneasy.
This unease is also evident in military security. The HORIZONS issue makes it clear that the societal “Zeitenwende” that was proclaimed as a result of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine brings with it complex issues – organizationally, politically, but also socially.
“The long period of peace in Europe has apparently paralyzed our willingness to make sufficient efforts to protect our own security, even though the risks are clearly visible,” summarizes Christoph M. Schmidt.
Actively shaping safety
Safety must be thought of in broad, long-term and systemic terms. Safety requires individual commitment as well as sustainable, long-term strategic action that must be negotiated by society. For this social discourse, acatech HORIZONS offers an understandable, clear and science-based overview of the topic and provides food for thought: How do we create more awareness of cyber security? Do we need more skills to classify risks? Is safety distributed fairly? What is the role of the state? What is the responsibility of each of us?
We need to address safety and security issues to actively shape our democracy. In a changing world, security and resilience are assured primarily when systems can dynamically adapt to new conditions.
Answers from the experts to questions that acatech HORIZONS Safety and Security does not ask in this way can be found in the HORIZONTE logbuch (in German).
HORIZONS is also on LinkedIn offering “Science in Snacks”.
To the publication (in German)
