It would appear that the essence of this “critique” is as follows: The “Realist” position is that “enemies” are defined or identified based on the actuality of threats that exist in the external world. Whereas the position of critical security studies is that threats are created or constructed based on the interpretation of events in the outer world.

This critique does not go far enough. Indeed, the very idea of national security is deeply problematic. The IR (International Relations) people do not factor history into their theories. A study of history reveals a preeminent fact about nation-states: the do not provide security. In fact, precisely the opposite.

Rudy Rummel was a political scientist—author or 24 books—who devoted his life to the study of state killing. One of his most popular publications is Death by Government (1994). He developed the concept of democide to describe all forms of killing performed by and in the name of the state.

The Table below presents his latest findings. The number for “Government Killed” refers to “any direct or individual killing by government officials, or government acquiescence in the killing of others.”

According to Rummel’s concept of democide, intentionality (premeditation) is crucial. Democide is meant to “define the killing by states as the concept of murder does individual killing in domestic society.” Democide, in short, is murder by government.

The idea that the primary function of the state is to provide “security” would appear to be a fantasy, a dream—or delusion. Precisely the opposite, according to Rummel: “The preeminent fact about governments is that some murder millions in cold blood”