Securitization seeks to provide solutions and tools to combat feelings of fear and insecurity through a process of constructing defensive mechanisms—architectural, physical, and, to some extent, psychological. Its effectiveness can be more directly tied to a decreasing sense of insecurity rather than to effective elimination of risks and threats.

Included in the process of securitization are architectural approaches and elements designed to counter violence and insecurity; these range from creating unique spaces to installing objects and perimeter protection devices to the computerization of everyday activities for security purposes. However, the securitization of a place does not necessarily mean that the space actually becomes more secure; rather, it is a practice that may end up being more psychological than actually effective in reducing risks. Thus, securitization refers ...