Overview of Insecurity in Context to Globalization - Essay Example

?Introduction Globalization is a multifaceted phenomenon that has greatly affected the way of conducting global affairs. The rapid development of information technologies in the past four decades coupled with application of other technologies has greatly enhanced the social and economic mobility across all regions in the world. World commerce is expanding at unprecedented rate because of high capital flow creating many investments in different geographical regions across the globe. In addition, interaction of people across different regions is more efficient than ever before, a phenomenon that has greatly enhanced the speed of conducting business. In this regard, information technology has virtually broken the geographical barriers to trade that had undermined economic development in the last century (Coaffee, 2006). Globalization has created as sense of interdependence in all realms of human existence resulting to both negative and positive consequences. On one hand, the developments form an enabling environment for attaining economic success, enhancement of better political systems in addition to promotion of peace and harmonious coexistence. On the other hand, globalization has created influential forces resulting to social fragmentation. Consequently, social vulnerabilities have occurred resulting to unprecedented levels of violence, conflict and insecurity. Moreover, economic disparities brought by globalization have occurred, causing economic crises across international borders. These events have created hardships across the world, which contributes significantly in development of security threats (Corva, 2008). Overview of insecurity in context to globalization Security threats have become global in nature and more serious because of wide spread application of information technology. According to Davis (2009) application of this technology has resulted to enhanced transfer and sharing of knowledge that has also been made possible by easy movement of people. Researchers attribute the increasing levels of insecurity to the effects of globalization. Combination of these developments coupled with the increasing economic interactions has resulted to mass resentment and problems that form the root cause of global insecurity. However, globalization has resulted to positive developments by offering new opportunities for the achieving economic growth and democracy (Davis, 2009). These positive effects of globalization can be used to counter the adverse effects of globalization by addressing its root causes. September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States highlighted the dangers of globalization whereby the Al-Qaida terror organization executed the attacks using the developments from globalization, including effective communication technologies, global financial networks, and easy movement of people because of better modes of transport (Davis 2009). The international community responded swiftly after the terror attack and since then, enforcement of security changed dramatically. Currently, security measures are not confined to surveillance but are now more extensive, addressing issues affecting human security such as democracy, climate change, poverty, immigration, in addition to drug trafficking (Davis, 2009). According to Heuer (1999), human security is concerned with how people live in the society and it ranges from political governance to the economic wellbeing of the people in local and international context. It entails how people exercise their free will, how they access market and social opportunities and whether they live in peace or conflict (Heuer, 1999). Campbell (2005) argued that human insecurity affects not only economic development, but also other realms of existence. In this respect Campbell, (2005) identified seven important areas of human security. These include economic, food, health security, environmental and personal security. In addition, community security and political security are important areas of concern for addressing the current security threats in the world. In a contemporary society lack of income, food and protection from diseases pose significant security threat to the wider society. In addition, lack of security from environmental threats such as adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation undermines human security significantly. Campbell (2005) notes that when people lack protection from the state, militant groups, or individuals, their security is undermined and they could resort to other methods of ensuring their own protection, a process that could lead to greater instability. Moreover, protecting the community from harmful practices and creating favorable environment that respects human rights, freedom of speech and liberty from political oppression and exploitation are important components of addressing human security issues (Campbell, 2005). Globalization affects these aspects of human security profoundly. Although globalization enhances creation wealth in one region, it results to widespread of poverty levels in another regions. Developing countries suffer most from the effects of economic liberalization originating from industrialized countries. BouBB notes industrialized economies develop unworkable economic models that are usually in conflict with the existing needs of developing countries, creating more financial problems and widespread poverty. Moreover, developing countries face intense pressure of adopting western economic models and this result to poor development, characterized by poor wealth distribution in the society, whereby a majority few become extremely wealthy while the majority suffer from chronic poverty. Examples of economic models prescribed to developing countries include structural adjustment programs, devaluation and market liberalization. These models have profound impact on developing economies and they mostly affect the majority poor segment in the society. Bundy (1988) noted that interaction of the local social systems with the increasingly globalized world results to severe economic, health, security, food, community and other concerns that undermine security in the society. Government involvement in addressing the growing concerns of these aspects of human insecurity in both developed and developing economies is very important. However, the declining involvement of most governments especially in developing countries in the affairs of their citizens exposes them to human insecurity. The effects of globalization create a high level of uncertainty among the citizens, and they lack sense of security and confidence in the government. Lack confidence in the government results to development of resentments, which creates an enabling environment for social upheavals and instability (Bundy, 1988). This results to intergroup suspicions and tensions on the basis of religion, economic class and regional and political affiliation (Aradua and Munster, 2007). Eventually, the sense of communal participation in the welfare of the society is undermined resulting to development of individualistic and egocentric attitudes. Consequently, intense competition and rivalry develops right from the basic family unit to the regional level. Values such as sharing of economic and social resources are replaced by intense selfishness and desire for getting monetary power at the expense of another person or group. This results to breaking of the social bonds holding the society together to the detriment of a united country. These altitudes lead to emergence of social problems such as crime in the society. Eventually, a particular group becomes marginalized economically or politically and this situation creates rebellions that are manifested by formation of gangs, militants and other organized groups (Aradua and Munster, 2007). When strongmen or warlords who have equally been disillusioned by globalization inspire these groups, a strong violent movement with a cause to fight for forms, and this group could influence others at local and international levels. Amoore (2006) noted that in most cases, warlords provide arms to the militia groups to empower them with the means of gaining control of the available natural resources from the government. This results to conflict with the government, which provides the warlords with an opportunity of gaining support from the disenfranchised groups in the society because they are viewed as liberators from oppressive economic policies. The situation intensifies the level of insecurity at both local and international level. Combination of other adverse effects of globalization results to an increase in transnational threats including proliferation of weapons, ethnic violence, cyber attacks, drug trafficking, global terrorism or crime, environmental degradation, use of biological warfare among other effects. Security agents apply different methods to counter the various forms of transnational threats, resulting from globalization. Development of transnational threats and security mechanisms In the past three decades, there has been recorded increase in development and application of weapons of mass destruction, unregulated movement of small arms across international borders in addition to entrance of other dangerous arms in different countries (Abbott, 2008). Amoore (2006) noted that the destructive potential of these weapons that have been made available to militants and enemy countries by the increasingly globalized world has necessitated the need for formulating an effective strategy to prevent their use. In respect to weapons of mass destruction, Abbott (2008) recommends a multifaceted approach to counter their application. These measures include counter proliferation measures to fight the application of weapons of mass destruction, strengthened non-proliferation measures to fight proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and finally, consequence management to respond to the use of weapons of mass destruction. According to Abbott (2008), counter proliferation entails the application of three proactive measures, which include interdiction, deterrence, and defense. In addition, counter proliferation permits application of devastating force on the enemies purported to be in possession of the weapons of mass destruction as a preemptive measure. The second measure of dealing with weapons of mass destruction entails strengthened non-proliferation to fight proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Abbott (2008) notes this involves application of diplomatic means, use of multilateral and prohibitive methods such as imposing economic sanctions, formulating threat reduction programs in addition to the strict control of movement nuclear materials and other potentially lethal elements that could be applied in development of weapons of mass destruction. Security intelligence officials in developed country especially the United States have on several occasions made preemptive attacks to neutralize the threats of weapons of mass destruction in hands of radicals and enemy states. For instance, the United States war against Iraq in 2003 was inspired by the need of disarming the enemy state the deadly weapons before using them on American interests. Another strategy of preventing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is making adequate military preparations to forestall potentially dangerous weapons. These strategies include building defense s against missile, destroying the capacities of enemy s countries of developing nuclear, biological and chemical weapons (Ericson, 2005). However, Gootenberg, (2009) notes that flow of ideas, courtesy of globalization makes it easier for enemy countries to acquire ideas and knowledge on how to develop weapons that could cause massive destruction. To address this problem, Huysmans (2004) recommends development of more pragmatic measures is necessary to prevent the proliferation. These measures include application of domestic and international security mechanisms for storing and movement of the weapons or elements used to make them, enforcing multilateral export controls , arms control verification and enforcement measures. In addition, enhancing intelligence surveillance, tracking operations and other forms of military intervention would ensure that the weapons are not easily accessible to terror groups or enemy countries (Huysmans, 2004). In case of export controls, Gootenberg, (2009) notes that security agencies are increasingly governing the movement of critical weapons to establish the ease of acquiring them across international borders and how widely they are distributed across the regions. In this respect, assessment of how these non-proliferation methods of preventing acquisition of weapons of mass destruction would help in curtailing the movement of dangerous weapons in addition to application of other methods such as surveillance have presented remarkable success in controlling the enemy states from acquiring them. Moreover to prevent proliferation of these weapons, developed countries including the united states in conjunction with global organizations such as united nations have introduced intrusive compliance measures, especially in respect to atomic and nuclear weapons, arms control treaties and imposing economic and political sanctions to the non complying states in the world(Furedi, 2007). Some of the countries where stringent intrusive compliance measures have been imposed in addition to stringent economic and political sanctions include North Korea and Iran (Furedi, 2007). Cyber attacks on the information technology networks widely used in the working of public infrastructure such as banking, energy, communication, transport, provision of social amenities such as water and electricity has become another real security threat. In a world that is widely installing information technologies to enhance more efficiency in movement of goods and services both in the local and international borders, the recent attacks on these installations is a testimony of their high vulnerability and also the great threat of cyber attacks on global economies. These attacks on information technologies, also called cyber terrorism have prompted stringent measures to prevent the attacks on the information technology networks (Furedi, 2007). Mabey, et al (1997) noted that the effects climate changes such as the global warming are other remarkable threats to global security. The effects of global warming usually cross international borders. Some of the adverse effects of global warming include destructive floods, droughts and violent storms. According to Mabey, et al (1997) security in the regional and global fronts is closely linked to climatic changes. Changes in climate results to the development of new strategic security situation, but many countries around the world are yet to put sufficient mitigation measures. The most immediate effects of climate change to global security includes transforming the strategic interests, alliances and cooperation, threats, economic relationships in addition to altering the comparative advantages and the nature international relations. Climate change has such profound effects because it plays significant role in production of natural resources, such as agricultural products, water and energy (Mabey, et al 1997). According to Huysmans (2004), competition for the available natural resources is a common trait in society and this fact underlines the significance of climate change to global security. The increasing global population exerts intense pressure on these resources, causing scarcity. In presence of the disruptive effects of climate change, that decreases availability of natural resources, human insecurity is enhanced. In this regard, it is important for global leaders to be proactive in formulating effective strategies of countering the adverse effects of climate change. According to Heuer, (1999) the prevailing effects of climate change will cause scarcity of resources because of the adverse weather conditions such as drought, famine raising water levels in addition to emergence of disease epidemics. These effects are not limited to particular region and they affect both developing and developed economies in the same measure. This causes significant economic stress especially to poor countries, in addition to increasing the intensity of competition on the available resources (Mythen, 2008). The eventual outcomes of intense competition on the available resources include the intergroup conflicts and wars in addition to mass migration to other countries to escape the effects of climatic change. This behavior enhances the escalation of conflicts and crime across the borders especially in developed countries that border poor countries that are vulnerable to effects of climate change. For instance, the characteristic insecurity at the United States border with Mexico is mainly caused by lack of enough resources in Mexico, resulting to illegal immigration and drug trafficking along the border. This situation is common in intercontinental boundaries between Africa and Europe, and along southeastern Asia border with Australia (Mythen, 2008). To address the problem of insecurity caused by climate change, it is important for the stakeholders to formulate environmentally friendly technologies and put in place effective disaster preparedness and mitigation measures (Sparke, 2006). However, reversing the effects of global warming relies mainly on development of clean sources of energy to prevent the emission of greenhouse gases to the environment. This presents a considerable challenge to the poor economies that rely on forests resources and fossil fuels to meet their energy demands. Though globalization has resulted to positive developments in the world, adverse economic effects on poor and developing countries is a globally acknowledged aftermath. This has resulted to widespread poverty that has compromised human security. To address the emerging security needs caused by globalization, global security systems currently incorporate other strategies besides surveillance and global response systems. These strategies aim at addressing the root causes of insecurity, conflicts, terrorism and civil wars in the world. The global community is working on providing solutions for the problems that cause people to resort to violence and destruction of natural resources, which eventually cause escalation of insecurity. These measures include supporting global health initiatives of fighting infectious diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis especially in developing economies (Sparke, 2006). Conclusion To address the problem of violence, it is important to understand the underlying cause in order to provide a long-term solution. Security experts have indentified the critical role that poverty, disease, lack of food, environmental disasters and lack of good governance structures play in accelerating global insecurity especially in this era of globalization. In this respect, the global community has put strategic measures to reduce the level of poverty especially in developing countries, improve farming practices and enhance conservation of environment. Moreover, countries, which have poor governance structures characterized by autocratic leadership, are prone to social problems, which subsequently increase the level of insecurity. To address the problem of insecurity in such countries, introducing democracy is another effective method (Trombetta, 2008). Democracy ensures that the wishes of the majority are respected , enhances accountability and transparency in addition to granting people a favorable environment for airing their views and concerns. Therefore addressing the adverse economic effects of globalization is important in enhancing global security. Empowering people through education, creating sustainable methods of economic development in addition to improving the physical, social, and political infrastructure, can tackle these economic disparities and the subsequent resentment that causes insecurity (Heuer, 1999). . References Abbott, C.(2008). An uncertain future: Law enforcement, national security and climate change. London: Oxford Research Group. Amoore, L .(2006). Biometric borders: governing mobilities in the war on terror. Political Geography, 25(3): pp 336-351 Aradua, C . & Munster, R. (2007).Governing terrorism through risk: Taking precautions, (un)knowing the future. European Journal Of International Relations, 13(1) pp 90-154. Bundy, M. (1988). Danger and survival: Choices about the bomb in the first fifty years New York. Vintage Books. 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