Concept of Security in 21 Century

• Concept of security in 21st Century.
• Power: Types of Power, National Power, Elements of

National Power, Balance of Power, & Foreign Policy.
Lecture by: Zahid Mehmood Zahid, PhD (IR) NDU, NOA Islamabad.
Think …!
What is security?
Is it against the hostile states/groups/people?

Or
Against the threats?
Which of these do you support?
 Democracies, Economic interdependence, and International

institutions ensures Security. E. Kant, T. Paine; D. Ricardo, R.
Cobden (Liberalism)
 Power (being powerful) ensures security & Survival.

(Realism)
Identify the type of threat.
1. If CPEC fails?
2. How climate change poses a threat to states?
3. Terrorism – a threat to state?
4. 5G and Huawei issue, b/w ? And Why?
5. Racism in USA?
6. If India divert the flow of Pakistani waters?
7. Ethnic, sectarian, and lingual divisions in a society?
8. Political instability – coups, constitutional crisis, electoral
crisis?
Old concept of Security …
 “Security is absence of threat”. Arnold Wolfers
 Absence of military threats from other countries.
Security in 21st century.
 “Security is about the ability of a state to maintain its

independence, and functional integrity”.
Barry Buzan
 This concept of security is expansion from Military to

political, economic, societal, environmental, Cyber security.
 It is security against the soft threats coming from within the

country .
New threat perception new realization
 After 1989, decrease in state to state wars.
 Rise of ethno-nationalism since 1970s.
 1973 oil crisis signified the economic security.
 Industrialization in last 40 years
 Globalization, resource wars – water, energy, climate crisis.
 Rise of non-state actors (Taliban + ISIS) led to terrorism.
 Digital Age
 Information wars – data wars, to cause societal unrest and
undermine government policies.
Five Sectors of security by Barry Buzan
Societal Security (when society is cohesive)
 Ethnic divisions is a threat in multi-ethnic societies.

 Sectarian divisions – a threat to social cohesion.
 Migration & Refugees causes demographic Shifts.
 Cultural Attack/transformation – Westernization.
Political Security (stability and continuity)
 When state sovereignty is not challenged.

 There is no state with in a state.
 Successful power transfer from one govt. to other.
 Security against negative political trends:
1. India can loose secularism to Hinduism.
2. America can loose internationalism to nationalism.
Economic Security (Self-reliance)
 Maximum self-reliance and least dependence on others.
 State must ensure revenues for state sustenance.
 Industrialized.
 Free market economy as prescribed by WTO.
Examples:
 US and China rose to the ranks because of their economy.
Military Security
 Having legal status of arms – IAEA etc.
 Having ability to defend militarily with;
 Sophisticated Technology,
 Sufficient number of troops,
 State of the art training,
 Will to fight.
Environment Security (guarding against environment)
 Climate change causes both human and material losses.
 Environment degradation, draught, famines, Food shortage,
Land erosion, floods, Rains, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc.
 Environment is being used as weapon:
 HAARP,
 Seismic warfare,
 Electromagnetic to modify weather conditions.
National Security Mix in 21st century
 Military Capabilities,
 Economic and technological base (cyber),
 Democratic political system,
 Cohesive society,
 Strong allies,
 Borders with friendly states,
 Capitalist economy
 Stable social & welfare system.
Power: Elements of
National Power
Power
 “Ability to influence other”
 “to get others to do what they otherwise would not”

Joseph Nye
Variants of Power
 Hard Power: military power, war, use of force, threat of use

of force.
 Soft Power: is the ability to attract people to your side without

using force. Culturally, Ideologically, and Institutionally.
Joseph Nye
 Smart Power combination of hard and soft powers.

USA uses smart power vis-à-vis Pak.
National Power
“The combination of all elements of power/capability that a

state uses to achieve its national interests”.
Padelford & Lincoln
Elements of National Power
Tangible elements of National Power

1. Military capability,
2. Economy capability.
3. Geography,
4. Population and man power,
5. Industrial & Agricultural output,

7. Resources;
(Natural)
1.Coal 2. Iron 3. Oil 4. Gas 5. Water
(Human Resources)
Capital/Labour
Intangible Elements of National Power
 Stable Political & Economic System
 Scientific & Technological base of Education
 National Morals & National Character;
 Leadership
 International standing
 Internal Cohesion
 Bureaucratic & diplomatic efficiency
B.O.P “An even distribution of power”
 Balance of power is a state of stability

between competing states.
 It is equilibrium among states to prevent
a single state from becoming too powerful
that can enforce its will upon other states.
 It can be regional (Indo-Pak) and global
(Soviet-US, Sino-US).
 It is very difficult to measure power,
hence B.O.P is ambiguous concept.
Two approaches to balancing.
 Internal balancing (increasing their own power)

 India’s rise in power will cause SD of Pak.
 Pak increases its own power, if unable, looks outward.
 External balancing
 Pakistan brings China in as ally.
Balance of Power
How Balancing is done in a given situation?
Either by reducing the power of the heavier or by increasing the
power of the lighter.
1. Divide and Rule (Germany)

2. Armament/Disarmament (Korea)
3. Alliance (NATO in Europe)
4. War (Georgia)
5. Buffer (Poland, Afghanistan)
Why Balance of Power is so important ?
 It ensures stability,
 Prevents wars,
 Does not allow a dominant power to impose her will upon other
countries.
“I would hold hands with the devil” if it would help beat the
Germans” US president F.D. Roosevelt
Foreign Policy: Determinants, decision
making and analysis
Foreign Policy
“Strategies that governments use to guide their actions in the
international arena to pursue and protect national interests in given
situations.”
 Foreign refers to things that exist beyond the territorial

boundaries
 Policy – guideline and approach to achieve the objectives.
Stages in foreign policy decision making
 1Assessment of the international & domestic political

environment.
 2 Goal setting.
 3 Determination of policy options.
 4 Formal decision making process.
 5 Implementation of chosen policy option.
Factors influencing the Foreign Policy
External Factors;
 A country’s position in international power structure

 Geographic Location
 Alliances
Internal Factors;
 Military Power
 Economy
 Leadership
 Quality of Diplomacy
 Role of Media and Think Tanks
Graham Allison’s three models of
Foreign Policy Decision Making;
1- Rational Actor Model
1. Defining & analyze the problem

2. Prioritizing the Goal
3. Developing alternatives
4. Evaluating each alternatives
5. Selecting the best options
6. Execution of decision
2 - Organizational Process Model (OPM)
 Leadership cannot make decision solely on its own.
 OPM is best for satisfactory decision making.
 Decision making is done by qualified and professional

individuals.
(3) Bureaucratic Model.
 This model explains the relationship between Bureaucrats and
elite politicians.
 Key individuals in critical positions with great influence.
 They have different priorities.
 They have different organizational positions and commitments:

The case of Iraq War
US President
George Bush
V. President
Dick Cheney
National Security
Secretary Defense Secretary of State
Advisor
Don. Rumsfield General Colin Powel
Condoleezza Rice
National Interest
 “Political traditions and political context with in which a nation

makes its foreign policy”. Morgenthau
 The goals that states pursue to maximize what they perceive to

be selfishly best for their country.
 State’s survival, security, and prosperity are the most

important national interests.
Types of National Interests
 Primary: integrity and identity
 Secondary: Protection of diaspora
 General: Protecting economy/trade through diplomacy and Int.

law.
Sovereignty
 Sovereignty: A government has the right, in principle, to do
whatever it wants in its own territory.
 It is the supreme authority within a territory.
 It is bound with territoriality & independent decision making.
 It is indivisible, permanent, and cannot be transferred. Rousseau

Concept of Security in 21 Century

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Concept of Security in 21 Century

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

• Concept of security in 21st Century.

• Power: Types of Power, National Power, Elements of

Is it against the hostile states/groups/people?

 Democracies, Economic interdependence, and International

 Power (being powerful) ensures security & Survival.

 “Security is absence of threat”. Arnold Wolfers

 Absence of military threats from other countries.

 “Security is about the ability of a state to maintain its

 This concept of security is expansion from Military to

 It is security against the soft threats coming from within the

Societal Security (when society is cohesive)

 Ethnic divisions is a threat in multi-ethnic societies.

 When state sovereignty is not challenged.

 “Ability to influence other”

 “to get others to do what they otherwise would not”

 Hard Power: military power, war, use of force, threat of use

 Soft Power: is the ability to attract people to your side without

 Smart Power combination of hard and soft powers.

“The combination of all elements of power/capability that a

Padelford & Lincoln

Tangible elements of National Power

4. Population and man power,

5. Industrial & Agricultural output,

 Stable Political & Economic System

 Scientific & Technological base of Education

 National Morals & National Character;

 Bureaucratic & diplomatic efficiency

 Balance of power is a state of stability

 Internal balancing (increasing their own power)

1. Divide and Rule (Germany)

 Foreign refers to things that exist beyond the territorial

 Policy – guideline and approach to achieve the objectives.

 1Assessment of the international & domestic political

 A country’s position in international power structure

1. Defining & analyze the problem

 Leadership cannot make decision solely on its own.

 OPM is best for satisfactory decision making.

 Decision making is done by qualified and professional

 Key individuals in critical positions with great influence.

 They have different priorities.

 They have different organizational positions and commitments:

 “Political traditions and political context with in which a nation

 The goals that states pursue to maximize what they perceive to

 State’s survival, security, and prosperity are the most

 Primary: integrity and identity

 Secondary: Protection of diaspora

 General: Protecting economy/trade through diplomacy and Int.

 It is the supreme authority within a territory.

 It is bound with territoriality & independent decision making.

 It is indivisible, permanent, and cannot be transferred. Rousseau

You might also like