Week 1; Assignment: Defining Homeland Security

The term homeland security is a part of our national vocabulary. However, not everyone is comfortable with this term. Some consider it alien or even sinister, based on their memories of revelations about civil liberties abuses committed by the government under the guise of "national security" during the Cold War. There was much confusion and no consensus about the definition of homeland security until the Bush administration published the first National Homeland Security Strategy in 2002 and an updated version in 2007. It is essential to understand not only the distinctions, but also the relationships between homeland security and other key terms or concepts such as homeland defense, national security, and emergency management.

To prepare for this assignment:

• Review the course media "History and Evolution of Homeland Security" featuring Dr. Phillip Schertzing. Reflect on his perspectives regarding the differences and relationships among homeland security, homeland defense, national security, and all-hazards emergency management, as well as the ongoing controversies regarding those differences and relationships.


• Review the article "Changing Homeland Security: What Is Homeland Security?" Reflect not only on Bellavita's perspectives on the differences and relationships among homeland security, national security, homeland defense, and emergency management, but also on his analysis of terrorism and all hazards within the context of homeland security. Consider the similarities and differences among homeland security, homeland defense, national security, and emergency management.

The assignment: (2 pages)

• Compare (similarities and differences) homeland security, homeland defense, national security, and emergency management.


• Explain at least one insight you gained or conclusion you drew about homeland security as a result of your comparison.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list only for those resources not included in the Learning Resources for this course.