International Relations: The Search for Security

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International Relations The Search for Security

• Lecture 10

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Outline

• I. Introduction
• II. International State System
• III. The Search for Security Two Modern
  Approaches to International Relations
• IV. Changing Meaning of Security
• V. New Threats
• VI. Human Security

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Outline

• I. Introduction
• II. International State System
• III. The Search for Security Two Modern
  Approaches to International Relations
• IV. Changing Meaning of Security
• V. New Threats
• VI. Human Security

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I. Introduction

• A. Modern state to state relations born in 17th
  Century (i.e. international relations)
• B. Scholarly discipline of International
  Relations emerged in 20th C.
• Born out of WWI
• Search for international security through
  transnational authority/institutions
• C. What is Security?
• Absence of violence, war, threats to the
  state/human beings.
• Key question - what creates insecurity and for
  whom?

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Outline

• I. Introduction
• II. International State System
• III. Theoretical Approaches to International
  Relations The Search for Security
• IV. Changing Meaning of Security
• V. New Threats
• VI. Human Security

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II. International State System

• A. The Treaty of Westphalia (1648)
• 1. End of Thirty Year War
• 2. Underpinning Principles of Westphalian State
• Sovereignty
• Territorial Integrity /Non interference
• State based system replaces imperial rule
• Greater security than imperial power?

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II. International State System

• B. Modern International Relations
• State of Anarchy/Insecurity internationally
• Westphalian system is trade off between
• Security within states - state authority over own
  people
• Insecurity between states - no authority between
  states

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Outline

• I. Introduction
• II. International State System
• III. The Search for Security Two Modern
  Approaches to International Relations
• IV. Changing Meaning of Security
• V. New Threats
• VI. Human Security

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III. Theoretical Approaches to International
Relations

• A. Introduction to IR as a Discipline
• WWI was new kind of war
• Number of dead increases enormously
• War involved civilians
• How to end war?
• B. Different Views of Human Nature

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III. Theoretical Approaches to International
Relations

• C. Idealist/Liberal School of IR (post WWI)
• 1. Theoretical Origins of Idealism Locke Mill
• 2. Historical Origins End of WWI
• Woodrow Wilson
• League of Nations
• Soft Power is key
• 3. Principles of idealism/liberal school
• a) Human nature is basically cooperative
• b) Central problem peace
• c) Objective create international authority

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III. Theoretical Approaches to International
Relations

• D. Realist School of IR (post WWII)
• 1. Theoretical Origins in Hobbes, Machiavelli
• 2. World War II - Idealism is naïve
• Hard Power is key
• 3. Hans Morganthau - Politics Amongst Nations
  (1948)
• 4. Principles of realist school of thought
• a) Human nature is power-seeking
• b) Key actors are states
• c) Anarchy underpins international system
• d) Motivation of states is national interest
• e) Security is central problem
• f) Objective balance of power

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Outline

• I. Introduction
• II. International Relations in the Modern Era
  The State System
• III. The Search for Security Two Modern
  Approaches to International Relations
• IV. Changing Meaning of Security
• V. New Threats
• VI. Human Security

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IV. Changing Meaning of Security

• Key question - what creates insecurity?
• Cold War Concept of Security
• 1. Greatest threat is external nuclear attack
• 2. National Security is key
• 3. National Security can be increased by
  economic/military strength
• 4. Security dilemma - National security leads to
  international insecurity
• 5. Solution is balance of powers and MAD

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IV. Changing Meaning of Security

• Post Cold War New Concept of Human Security
• Security defined as security of individuals NOT
  states
• Borderless world gives new meaning of
  insecurity
• Change precipitated by
• End of Cold War
• Changed role of UN
• Globalization/Technology
• New Threats - Different meaning of insecurity

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V. New Threats

• Population/environmental threats
• Proliferation of weapons
• Nuclear
• Non-nuclear
• Ethnic conflict (intra-state)/ cleansing
• Terrorism

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V. New Threats
World Population (Billions)

• Population
• People do two things
• Consume
• Produce Waste
• Threat to security
• Produce Pollution
• Air
• Water
• Climate Change

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V. New Threats

• Nuclear Weapons Proliferation

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V. New Threats
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V. New Threats

• Nuclear Weapons Proliferation
• Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (1970)
• International Treaty to limit the spread of
  nuclear weapons (beyond US, UK, France, Russia
  and China)
• Four nations have not signed
• India, Pakistan, North Korea, Israel
• Security Threats in Post Cold-War World
• Nuclear weapons in unstable region/state
• India and Pakistan tension - both have done tests
• Israel will not confirm but consensus is they
  have nukes
• North Korea is unpredictable and has made threats
• Iran is current focus for international community
• Nuclear weapons obtained by terrorists

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V. New Threats

• Non nuclear weapons proliferation
• Small arms kill 1000 people/day in conflicts
• Arms are sold largely to countries in conflict
• Global Small Arms Trade is big business
• Over 1000 companies in 90 countries
• Conventional Arms Trade in 2004 - 35
  billion/year
• 16 billion units of ammunition
• Arms Trade exacerbates conflict in developing
  world

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V. New Threats

• Arms supplied by US, Russia, UK, France

1997-2004
2006
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V. New Threats

• Ethnic Conflict
• 1946-1992
• More wars
• Fewer deaths
• Ethnic conflict

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V. New Threats

• Ethnic Conflict
• Genocide (extinction of group of people)
• Contemporary example
• Rwanda 1994
• Hutu majority kill Tutsi minority
• 100 days - 800,000 killed (Red Cross estimate)
• International Community stood by while the
  genocide occurred
• Eye Witness General Romeo Dallaire
• UN Commander
• Unable to convince the UN/Western powers to act
  to protect those who were being killed

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V. New Threats

• Terrorism
• Local is global
• Non-state actors
• Civilians targeted
• Suicide attacks
• Robert Pape Dying to WinThe Logic of Suicide
  Terrorism
• Analysed every suicide attack 1984-2004
• Tamils are responsible for majority of attacks
• Political Objective Remove foreign occupier

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VI. Human Security

• United Nations redefining security
• National Security of Cold War no longer key
• New Threats - Security defined in relation to new
  threats
• Common Threads to New Threats
• Rights of human beings being violated
• NOT state to state threats
• Environment Global problem no borders
• Ethnic conflict intra-state and refugee problem
  state part of the problem
• Proliferation of Weapons Non state/intra state
  actors
• Terrorism Non state actors
• National Military/Economic Might will not solve
  problems
• International community must respond to new
  threats
• Multilateralism and variety of local tools
  required

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VI. Human Security

• Addressing New Threats
• Environmental Issues
• Kyoto Global Agreements and Targets
• Local Initiatives
• Ethnic Cleansing
• International Criminal Court
• Responsibility to Protect (UN Document)
• Proliferation of Weapons
• Nuclear
• Reassert NPT
• Traditional Diplomacy and International Pressure
• Eg. North Korea, Iran (tragedy of Iraq - pressure
  worked)

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VI. Human Security

• Addressing New Threats
• Proliferation of Weapons
• Non Nuclear Arms Trade
• International Small Arms Agreement (like
  landmines)
• Terrorism
• Invasion/occupation of countries reduce or
  increase security?
• Iraq/Afghanistan
• National Security Strategy of USA (September
  2002)
• Multilateral and Local Intelligence Gathering on
  Crimes
• Link between Development and Security