Traditional and new ideas of security
The traditional idea sees security as safety from military attack by another country. The new idea adds hunger, disease, terrorism and environmental threats to people.
Traditional versus new idea of security
| Point | Traditional idea | New (non-traditional) idea |
|---|---|---|
| Main threat | Military attack or armed conflict by another nation | Wide threats to human life: hunger, disease, terrorism, environmental damage |
| Whose security | The nation: its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity | People: individuals, communities and humankind, as well as nations |
| Response | Treaties, stronger defence, troops on borders, military alliances | Development, human rights, health care, protecting the environment, fighting terrorism |
| Purpose | Protect the nation from outside attack | A precondition for development and human dignity |
How nations meet traditional threats
- Settle the cause of a threat by a bilateral agreement (between two countries) or a long-term treaty not to attack each other.
- Build up defence capabilities and post more forces on the borders.
- Follow a balance of power approach: countries sign a treaty to act together if any one of them is attacked.
- Support international bodies such as the United Nations, created to save humanity from war.
Threats in the new idea
- Terrorism and insurgency (armed rebellion against the government).
- Genocide (the mass killing of a people) and the denial of human rights.
- Health epidemics, hunger and want.
- The narcotics (drug) trade.
- Environmental degradation and the careless use of natural resources.
- Exploitation and inhuman treatment of people.
Why the idea widened
Protecting people from foreign attack is necessary, but it is not everything. A person can live in a country with safe borders and still face hunger, disease or exploitation. The new idea is mainly about individuals. It sees peace and security as the precondition for socio-economic development and for human dignity.
Soldiers guard the borders. But security in the new sense also means vaccination drives in an epidemic, relief after a cyclone and cheap food grain for poor families.
3 marks: “Give three differences between the traditional and the new idea of peace and security.” (1) The traditional idea focuses on military threats from other nations; the new idea also covers hunger, disease, terrorism and environmental threats. (2) The traditional idea protects the nation; the new idea protects individuals, communities and humankind. (3) The new idea sees security as a precondition for development and human dignity.
1 marks: “What kind of threat is the traditional idea of security mainly concerned with?” Military or armed attack by another nation.
2 marks: “Name any four threats in the new idea of security.” Any four: terrorism, insurgency, genocide, denial of human rights, health epidemics, the narcotics trade, misuse of natural resources.
Old security guards the border; new security guards the person.