Research Design / Homeland Security

RESEARCH DESIGN / HOMELAND SECURITY Name: Institutional Affiliation: Homeland Security Research Design Introduction In consideration of the current threats that hit the world; the United States has resorted to invest heavily on homeland security with the aim of maintaining the element of border and cyber security within its soil. The State, Federal and local governments have developed different initiatives implemented with the primary objective of escalating enforcement practices in different communities across the globe. These efforts are primarily driven towards addressing issues that relate to unlawful presence and illegal immigration that have inhibited the state especially the job market that currently employs illegal immigrants for cheap labor. However, the inclusion of these measures are not considered to be at par with the current situation that results from terroristic threats identified and posed by agencies responsible for securing homeland security. An instance of this can be depicted in substance and human trafficking, security hacks, and illegal immigrations that have damaged the societal values than the collateral damage received from terroristic activities that occur in America (Caudle, 2011). In this case, it is essential to consider that the development and implementation of security systems that address these challenges and ensure that Homeland Security is achieved remains focal. The primary focus of this approach should be directed on the immediate issues affecting the American people that include border and cyber security. Research Question What are some of the central threats to America’s homeland security that necessitate the need for research in understanding the key factors and influencing decision-making in regards to addressing these issues? Hypotheses Hypothesis 1 The centralized politics and complacency of this state are some of the key ingredients that affect the process of decision-making in relation to homeland security. Matters security requires the state agencies to set priorities right. This remains effective in initiating and implementing systems that support homeland security and emergency management programs that are significantly influenced by the turnout of events. As a result of this, the developed systems are likely to react in accordance to immediate perceived and prioritized threats. However, these systems still focus and consider terrorism as the primary threat to America’s homeland security. Drawing focus on terrorism in this case is likely to result to the escalation of other threats since attention is only shifted towards a single threat, a matter that would result in the inclusion of selected departments (Caudle, 2011). Alternatively, the government of America has been seen as using these threats as an element that justifies their efforts in assigning troops, surveillance equipment’s and military personnel for foreign assignments, thus trying to rationalize the obscene expenditures on the state’s security apparatus, thus resulting in the development of an hypothesis. Hypothesis 2 In accordance with the Constitution of the United States of America, power is heavenly divided between different organs that involve the Federal State and the Federal Government. The inclusion of these organs was initiated to ensure that the element of over-centralization of power within a single organ is addressed. In such an instance, the aspect of homeland security and emergency management, the local tiers, and the state have the required resources, experiences and the geographical locus in dealing with some of the prevalent threats to the American society (Caudle, 2011). In this case, it is also significant to establish that threats that are not within the national level tend not to trouble the federal government, an aspect that clearly proves the manner in which local threats may negatively affect the security of the Americans. Homeland security and emergency management initiatives are also vulnerable to politics since each administration is likely to establish different security and foreign affairs approach, an aspect that results in the manifestation of different objectives between the administrations. On the other hand, the members of congress have corporations, constituents, and stakeholders, all of whom require resources in establishing powerful friendships and relations (Calabresi, Berenson & Rebala, 2015). Laws that are currently passed in congress are utopian in nature and politically motivated. This explains the rationale behind the failures of politics in the development of effective policies that may impact how homeland security and emergency management issues are dispensed within this state. Hypothesis 3 The presence of complacency within the apparatus established in homeland security also remains a factor to consider. In order to effectively maintain the security of a nation, it is essential to address the competition that arises between innovative adversaries and homeland security agencies. In a case where these agencies turn out to be complacent, the state is consequently likely to be exposed to several threats (Calabresi et al., 2015). Complacency in this process can be depicted in the failures of homeland security and emergency management agencies in taking a definite stance of some of the elements that threaten the security of the American population. An instance of this is depicted in a country’s approach to dither its efforts and approaches to some of the threats posed by Islamic States, while illegal immigration and transfer of drugs continues unabated within the Mexican border. Variables In achieving the goals of this study, there are three primary variables that will be considered and that include: threats to homeland security, exposures and consequences of these threats. In this case, it is imperative to establish that these three variables have the capacity to impact the degree of the state’s complacency and politics that are directed toward promoting the aspect of over-centralization. In the assessment of threats to this economy, there is a need to consider contextual elements that include the primary actors, their motives, capabilities as well as weaknesses (Calabresi et al., 2015). In consideration of the fact that too much focus has been directed to terrorism as the chief source of threat to homeland security, it is presumed that homeland security agencies have the perception that terrorist’s are likely to have ill intentions and capacity to shake the security of the nation. However, this study seeks to evaluate some of the threats faced by the state in relation to the mandate of homeland security agencies. On the other hand, the element of exposure determines the intensity and degree to which the state is vulnerable to some of the threats identified and the manner in which these weaknesses can be addressed. This requires the identification of weaknesses through developed systems and structures that may not be obtained or accessed by the threats and establishing approaches of eliminating these vulnerabilities. Thirdly, a consequence as a variable hypothetically establishes the outcomes of events in an event that the motives of a threat are actualized. Such consequences are predominantly likely to result in collateral damages such as the destruction of properties, deaths, the disruptions of economic and social institutions, psychological effects among others. By exploring the consequences, it is easy to identify how these consequences can be averted and unavoidable in order to effectively employ emergency management approaches in advance that would address such occurrences (Calabresi, et.al.2015). The consequences can be classified as either thinkable, that only have few effects and are only bound to particular geographical locations and time, while the unthinkable may result in the loss of lives and excessive damages, with the effects spread over space and time. Thinkable consequences in this case can be minimized while the unthinkable may only be prevented. It is essential to detail that these variables are primarily qualitative in nature and can only be analyzed through the use of an inferential approach. Inferential analysis remains essential to these variables since it will base its analysis on comparisons, especially on the identified threats, the vulnerability of homeland security to these threats, and the consequences of the threats (Kemp, 2012). The inferential analysis will ensure the hypotheses are integrated in a manner that examines how complacency, politics and over-centralizatio...