Cultural Identity and Human Security in Europe

Cultural Identity as a key dimension of Human Security in western Europe: The dutch Case

by Edien Bartels, Kim Knibbe, Martijn de Koning and Oscar Salemink

In this chapter of A world of insecurity: Anthropological perspectives on human security edited by Thomas Hylland Eriksen and Ellen Bal, we (your blogger, Edien Bartels, Oscar Salemink and Kim Knibbe) take up the discussion of cultural identity as a dimension of security. We deal with issues such as feelings of insecurity and radicalization among native Dutch and minority citizens. We show how minority identities may enhance the internal sense of security in the group, but may lead to anxieties and (subjectively experienced) insecurity in greater society. Both majorities and minorities are inclined to feel insecure about their belonging and sense of identification in contemporary Western European societies.