Securitization by regulation? The Flemish mayor as democratic anchor of local security policies

Introduction Security is arguably the most potent of all policy goals (Loader and Walker, 2007; Zedner, 2009; Stone, 2012). Within our modern social imaginary, the view prevails that security is the raison d’être of our liberal democratic governments. We hold these governments responsible for ensuring public order and security for the common good of all (Taylor, 2004). Invoking security can, however, be used to trump other societal values and introduce authoritarian measures that would ordinarily be politically untenable - especially when faced with insecurity in times of crises: During crises, leaders often claim that to ensure security, they must be able to act swiftly and forcefully, without the constraints on executive power that law is meant to exert. Invoking threats to security and public order, they declare a state of emergency and suspend ordinary laws, governmental procedures, and sometimes constitutions.