International Security Revision Class

Today we will Review key concepts Discuss exam writing techniques Practice Answer Session

What is security? There are four key assumptions underlying the idea of security: (1) security in (or of) what; (2) from what; (3) for what; and (4) by what means

Security may be defined as: (1) Safety (2) from other people (3) so that people can enjoy the advantages of living in society with others while limiting the risks (4) through deterrence on the part of the would-be protector or diffidence on the part of would-be attacker

Security of the State What activities do we associate with security of the state? What paradigm of security reflects these concerns?

Security of the State Security of the state refers to a state’s ability to protect itself from external dangers and menaces: e.g., intervention, blockade, invasion, destruction, occupation, or some other harmful interference by a hostile foreign power or terrorist group. The goal of state security is to deter, prevent or defeat attacks against the state and its population. The proponents of national security, who we often refer to as realists, generally assume that we live in a world where states are both the main sources of security and the main security threats.

Limitations of State Security Not all states have the same security requirements Security of the state does not always translate into security of the person

Minimal, Maximal and Failed States Minimal states give priority to the individuals who compromise them (liberalism) Maximal states give priority to the community or collective (authoritarianism / totalitarianism) Failed (or quasi) states are legal fictions where there is in effect no civil authority

Security of International Society What activities do we associate with security of international society? What paradigm of security reflects these concerns?

Security of International Society Insecurity within international society must necessarily come from within and not from without; it is an internal dynamic arising out of the condition of anarchy In this context, the goal is to deter those who would threaten the plural and cooperative character of international society. This goal is achieved by the balance of power and the concert of great powers The proponents of international security, who we often refer to as pluralists or rationalists, see a world characterised by a mixture of conflict and cooperation.

Limitations of International Security The great powers do not always act in concert The great powers often allow their own national interests to take priority over their international responsibilities A single, global superpower (USA) could put an end to the balance of power

Security of the Person What activities do we associate with security of the person? What paradigm of security reflects these concerns?

Security of the Person Security extends beyond the protection of borders, ruling elites, and exclusive state interests to include the protection of people The goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of all human beings We see evidence of this goal at work in human rights, humanitarian law (the laws of war) and crimes against humanity The proponents of human security, who we often refer to as solidarists or revolutionists, consider personal security to be a fundamental problem of international relations and not merely a matter for the domestic politics of the state concerned.

Limitations of Security of the Person It is potentially open to the charge of chauvinism, ethnocentrism and imperialism It disregards or downplays the practical and normative problems associated with military intervention

Military Intervention  Intervention consists of “interference by a sovereign state, group of such states, or international organization, involving the threat or use of force or some other means of duress, in the domestic jurisdiction of an independent state against the will or wishes of its government” (R. Jackson, 2000) Intervention is thus the exception rather than the rule in international society and can therefore only be justified in the most exceptional of circumstances The expectation is that such intervention will only take place when there is compelling and indeed overwhelming reasons to interfere with the sovereign rights of states and their citizens to conduct their own domestic affairs as they see fit

Current Justification for Intervention Consent (National Security) (Bosnia / Afghanistan) International Order (International Security) (Iraq 1991) Humanitarianism (Human Security) (Kosovo)

Q & A Do you have any specific questions or points of clarification related to the syllabus?