StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...

Can the concept of security be defined should it be - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Can the concept of security be defined, should it be? Abstract This essay analyses whether the concept of security can be or should be defined. The analysis is conducted by reference to the debate on traditional concepts of security and the expansion of the concept of security which emerged in the post-Cold War era…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER94.5% of users find it useful
Can the concept of security be defined should it be
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Can the concept of security be defined should it be"

Download file to see previous pages

In addition, while there is an agreement on the broadening agenda of security, incriminate expansion of the concept, hinders intellectual coherence of the concept and the security field. More importantly, the remaining importance of the question of war and violence under international anarchy cannot be ignored. This paper begins by questioning what security is and identifying its conceptual difficulties. This includes an examination of conflicting theories in Security Studies. Secondly, the narrow concept of security defined by traditional theory developed during the Cold War is discussed.

Thirdly, proponents in favour of extending the concept of security in more detail are examined as well as the different dimensions of security challenging traditional concepts. Fourthly, limitations arising out of indiscriminate expansion of the concept are examined. Fifthly, a critical analysis of contemporary discourse which comes across as Eurocentric will be conducted. In this regard, the need for the strong and the weak in the same context is suggested. Finally, a conclusion is provided suggesting that relational thinking should be applied to security studies.

Introduction Security studies dramatically developed in response to the development and spread of nuclear weapons and the corresponding conflicts between two superpowers during the Cold War influencing the growth of international relations (IR) theory. After World War (WW) II, the nuclear arms race between the US and the former Soviet Union produced myriad strategic concepts characterized by the balance of power, bipolar world, containment and deterrence comprising the major issues during the Cold War.

Realist theory emerged dominating IR, displacing the earlier emphasis on international law and organisations. Rational problem solving emphasizes scientifically calculating interest, cost and the best alternatives. The central question for strategists during the Cold War was how states could states could use weapons of mass destruction as policy instruments, given the risk of nuclear exchange (Walt, 1991, p.214). Cold War security discourse therefore required a reflection of the immediate reality and as a result, historical and cultural contexts were largely ignored or relegated to low politics.

For example strategic theory failed to satisfactorily explain theVietnam War as there was little attention to Vietnamese cultural context and instead relied on expectations that the Vietnamese adversary would conform to academic models (Kolodziej, 2005, p.23). With the collapse of the former Soviet Union and thus the end of the Cold War, low politics gained currency, commanding the adoption of a new concept of security by expanding on the traditional concept. Thus, in 1994 the UNDP advocated for a transition 'from nuclear security to human security' which included issues such as ‘hunger, disease and repression', and 'protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions'.

In 1995, the International Commission on Global Governance recommended that international security must be reconceptualised to direct attention ‘to the security of people and the planet.' In other words, difficulties for mankind generally or specific communities are now conceptualized as security risks. Changes in the past have resulted in changes in conditions and thus have corresponded with changes relative to the concept of securit

...Download file to see next pages Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Can the concept of security be defined should it be Essay”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/history/1396901-can-the-concept-of-security-be-defined-should-it
(Can the Concept of Security Be Defined Should It Be Essay)
https://studentshare.org/history/1396901-can-the-concept-of-security-be-defined-should-it.
“Can the Concept of Security Be Defined Should It Be Essay”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/history/1396901-can-the-concept-of-security-be-defined-should-it.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Can the concept of security be defined should it be

The Environmental Security Debate

The advocates of the environment-security relationship strongly upheld the belief that the perils of environmental degradation are at least ruthless as the military menaces which most apparently are integrated under the security coverage and the materialization of these fresh threats would make people reflect on the concept of national security.... The advocates of the environment-security relationship strongly upheld the belief that the perils of environmental degradation are at least ruthless as the military menaces which most apparently are integrated under the security coverage and the materialization of these fresh threats would make people reflect on the concept of national security....
8 Pages (2000 words) Assignment

Information systems security incident

the concept of OPerations on information security incident is based on the severity and impact of the incident... This paper describes the types of logs that are maintained at B-Concepts, the log management system and discusses the advantages of security logs.... hree types of security logs are maintained at B-Concepts: Security process logs are records of the security procedure and security policy application.... Security fault logs are recorded in absence of security policy and risk management strategy....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay

Security Management

The Return on Investment is calculated by: the concept of Return on Investment is applicable to all investments in an organization.... The executive decision makers of organizations often have the interest to know the impact of security on the bottom-line operations of the firm.... It is imperative to know how much the lack of security in an organization costs the firm before deciding on the amounts of capital to invest on security.... It informs the organization on the financial impact on productivity that the lack of security could cause....
17 Pages (4250 words) Research Paper

Why is Security so Difficult to Define

arious connotations of political security: It is interesting to note that the concept of political security has changed over the years.... describes the aspects of security process with regard to politics in today's complex world.... From this work, it is clear about the Cold War era, lack of security due to racial and ethnic issues.... Hence, the complexity of today's world coupled with growing global interaction (intended and unintended) has made the issue of security quite complex and difficult to define....
8 Pages (2000 words) Coursework

Realism, Fantasy And Utopia

As an example, as human frameworks of understanding have tried to outline the nature of Heaven, the concept has included mansions, streets of gold, and perfect joy within the sight and presence of God.... Human existence is defined by its struggles, by the way in which one point of view comes into conflict with another.... However, mansions and gold have proven to be resources of greed and unhappiness throughout human history and to be in the presence of God would be to stand in stark contrast to pure Grace, the human existence frail and without virtue in comparison, thus there is no way in which a human can understand what it would mean to live in a state of perfection....
9 Pages (2250 words) Coursework

Compilation of Security Data Issues

The paper 'Compilation of security Data Issues' focuses on data security issues.... Most organizations and businesses implement numerous forms of security by enforcing hardware remedies such as firewalls and routers.... The paper is a compilation of ten security data issues.... Data security means safeguarding data, like a database, from disparaging forces, and from the undesired actions of unauthorized personnel.... hellip; The author states that unauthorized access to data is one of the data security issues affecting businesses....
12 Pages (3000 words) Report

Security in the Context of International Relations Theories

In view of the plethora of the concept of international security, an utmost concern regarding the security of the nations has been emerged.... nbsp;According to the realists from different development stages of international relations, the concept of international system characterizes as an anarchic structure, where minimum or less authority exists on a sovereign state.... The aim of the paper “security in the Context of International Relations Theories” is to evaluate the notion of international security in the current globalized era....
16 Pages (4000 words) Research Paper

The Role of Security Professionals in the Architecture Design Process

… The paper "The Role of security Professionals in the Architecture Design Process" is a brilliant example of a term paper on design and technology.... The paper "The Role of security Professionals in the Architecture Design Process" is a brilliant example of a term paper on design and technology.... The themes are based on the eight research questions guiding the study, which is to examine the role of security consultants in the architecture design process and to explore the relationship between the security professionals and the architects in the architecture design process....
24 Pages (6000 words) Term Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us