How much effort do we devote to preserving our integrity? All healthy organisms defend themselves against external aggression, both biologically and socially. If the brain's biological defenses are among the most effective in the human body, comparatively speaking, IT managers are just as careful to defend their systems. In their field, failure to do so is simply suicidal. Libraries, research centers, schools, hospitals, companies, banks, the police and the army... all are concerned with the security of their members, their data and their equipment. Their very functioning depends on it.
In medieval times, it was not uncommon for over 70% of budgets to be devoted to defense. Today, the gains offered by a mobile national army make it possible to reduce the burden at individual level. Defense spending is also linked to prosperity. There's no need to defend an arid land where there's nothing to covet, but a prosperous region and organization are worth defending. If the effort to conquer appears advantageous to a neighbor, this attraction must be offset by adequate defense. Deterrence only works when it is credible, hence the importance of maintaining our relations and institutions to face up to the powerful, whether individuals or nations.
Academic freedom and freedom of speech are part of our reality insofar as we are prepared to defend these principles with the necessary force, as much physical and legal as moral. Beyond principles, anti-corruption is part of the defense strategies of all sound administrations.
At all levels, a certain amount of effort is devoted to defense. What is the optimum? What are the best defense strategies, depending on the field and the context? When it comes to setting budget priorities, we'd like to see a good Minister of Education. Despots can only rule over ignorant people who are easy to stun. Better to remain alert and capable.
Denys Lamontagne - [email protected]
Illustration: Ramon Perucho - Pixabay
