Security indicates something - an asset - is, or may be, protected from a danger. For a discussion of homeland security one needs to identify the class of potential assets that might be endangered and the potential dangers that might be relevant. This paper argues that IT has to play an indispensable role in homeland security, that, however, homeland security must not be permitted to rest on IT only. Rather, social measures need to be invented and implemented. They must be sufficiently effective and efficient in preventing assets to be endangered, detecting dangers that actually exist, and sensibly dealing with these dangers. The paper furthermore argues that prevention is the most suitable way of dealing with issues of homeland security if these issues are considered for a long period of time. Prevention is understood to rest on two things. The first is the implementation of a comprehensive approach to human rights, participation, and development at the national level. The second is the implementation of an approach to cooperation, fair trade, respect to cultural and political differences, and observation of international law at the international level. The papers key point is that security, in the first place, is not a technological issue but a political and cultural one.

Publicly controlled social bodies are required to engage in homeland security. The paper will suggest to such bodies two kinds of methodology support. First the use of multi-criteria decision making approaches and procedures for detection of dangers and for assessing counter- measures is recommended. Second, using creativity techniques, as in use in requirements engineering, is recommended for devising effective and efficient such measures.