4.0. Issues in International Security

4.1. The Impact of Nuclear Weapons on Global Politics

4.2. Nuclear Weapons in International Security

4.3. Armed Conflict in Global Politics

4.0 Issues in International Security

• Learning Objectives:– Critically evaluate the concept of security– Understand how the study of international

security has evolved– Be familiar with central issues in

contemporary international security studies

4.0. Issues in International Security

• What is Security?

Study Tip:

When using the level of analysis tool to think about threats to international security, contemplate how actors at each level of analysis might be able to respond to these threats. Are some actors better able to respond to certain threats than others?

4.0. Issues in International Security

• Thinking about Security

Study Tip:

How would each of the theories we examined in part one of the course define threats to international security, and what advice would they give to meet these threats?

4.0. Issues in International Security

• The Evolution of International Security

4.0. Issues in International Security

• The focus of international security has broadened:– State Security– Group Security– Human Security– International Peace and Security

4.0. Issues in International Security

• Why has the focus of International Security broadened?

4.0. Issues in International Security

1. The growing importance of non-state actors

Non-state Actors in International Security

• Ethnic Groups• Terrorist Groups• Private Security

Companies• MNCs• Criminal Syndicates• Pirates

4.0. Issues in International Security

2. Global (transnational) security concerns

Note that there is overlap between these categories. For example, terrorist groups are non-state actors, but international terrorism is a global security issue (and could be an intrastate security issue as well).

Global Security Issues

• Military Spending• Weapons Proliferation• International

Terrorism• Drug Trafficking• Trafficking in Persons• Refugees and IDPs• Infectious Disease

4.0. Issues in International Security

3. Intrastate (internal, domestic) security issues

Intrastate Security Issues

• Failed States (states at risk)

• Intrastate war• Minority rights and

freedoms• Political and

economic grievances• Self Determination

and Separatism

4.0. Issues in International Security

4. Human (individual) security issues

Human Security Issues

• Freedom from fear• Freedom from want• Human rights• Genocide and political

mass murder

4.0. Issues in International Security

5. Economic security

Economic Security Issues

• Poverty and instability• Growth• Energy security• Sea Lanes of

Communication

4.0. Issues in International Security

5. Environmental security

Environmental Security Issues

• Climate Change• Resource depletion• Pollution

4.0. Issues in International Security

6. The end of the Cold War

The shift in the international security agenda, 1985-2007

The Cold War Agenda The Post-Cold War Agenda

East vs. West North/South

HIC LIC

Alliances Zones of Turmoil

Military/technical Socio-cultural

Deterrence Proliferation

Soviet Threat Regional Stability

State Arms Control Global Arms Control

Summary

• At the end of this class, you should be able to discuss the concept of security critically and recognize that security is a multi-layered (and often constructed!) concept.

• You should be able to describe how the study of international security has evolved, particularly since the end of the Cold War.

• And you should be familiar with the central issues in contemporary international security studies.

• Next, we will examine one of the most significant developments in international security: the threat of nuclear weapons.