Internal Security and the Politics of Law and Order

Abstract

In public debates, political controversies, and especially in election campaigns, security is always a hot issue. Successful election campaigns have quite often been based on the promise to be “tough on crime,” that is, curbing crime or unlawful behavior, and improving security in public spaces. Many believe Michael Dukakis’s presidential campaign in 1988 failed because he was regarded as “soft on crime” (Anderson 1995). Margaret Thatcher, on the other hand, won the elections in 1979 by promising to increase public expenditures for the police and to end social unrest by disciplining the trade unions and starting a “fight against crime.” Labour in 1997 made crime and crime prevention a major topic in its successful campaign as well and promised to be tough on crime and on the causes of crime. In Germany also, security was at the forefront of the political debate in 1998, with Social Democrats running their election campaign under the slogan of “Social Security” and “Social Justice.” Both issues figured prominently on the agenda and voters were given the impression that a change of government would mean a change for the better: more social security and justice without sacrifices. In its coalition agreement, the Red-Green government furthermore regarded the continuous improvement of internal security as one of its most important tasks.