International security environment - Essay Example

International security environmentDue to regional and global security issues, international security environment is experiencing rapid change. There are several theories regarding to international security, and among them, theory by Dr. Thomas P. M. Barnett is significant because of its future oriented outlook and predictable features. Here is an attempt on individual level as military staff, to unveil the theory impact on one’s future military service. Barnett’s theory focus on the transformation of military, due to security challenges of the new millennium.

It is understandable that transformation of the military will directly influence one’s role in the future military. As the conventional/traditional military prove itself outdated and no more useful in modern warfare, the irregular threats compel the military to transform its structure and technology. The unique position of the U.S. Military in international security and its leading role in counter terrorism/counter-insurgency compel it to be innovative and refined. From this view point, the future military service can be predicted and it provide due importance to sophisticated training and innovative technology.

For instance, the 9/11 terrorist attack forced the government to shape the Office of Force Transformation (OFT) to transform the US Military to be competitive in present and future missions. So, it is quite evident that the future military services will be more aggressive than present. Barnett points out that future may prove the maximization of U.S. Military influence in every nook and corner of the world. Apparently, one who is in military service must be prepared to be in any part of the world to serve the nation.

Besides, Barnett states that globalization leads to increase in standard of living, but some areas are disconnected from its influence and is still underdeveloped. This disconnection resulted in non-integrating gap among world countries, and acts as a threat to national security of the U.S. government. In the work- ‘American defense policy’ by Paul J. Bolt, Damon V. Coletta, and Collins G. Shackelford points out that: “Our next war in the Gulf will make a historical tipping point- the moment when Washington takes real ownership of strategic security in the age of globalization.

” (Bolt, Coletta, and Shackelford 66) The Gulf war on terror is historical because it vexes the ownership of global security on the United States’ Government. Besides, the U.S. Military forces play the key role in international security. So, the role of an individual in military services is not limited to the sphere of national security. This key role in national and international security leads to stability, and eventually success in exporting security. It is apparent that future military service may be directly linked to national and international security issues.

Barnett concludes by predicting that the next 5 to 10 years will prove that there will be less interaction by the U.S with Central Asia and East Central Europe, and it is high time to concentrate on Sub-Saharan Africa, Middle East and South East Asia. This interaction will not be on temporary basis, but permanent presence on the ground and in the water. Barnett points out that the U.S. Government changes its focus from Europe to Africa and Asia. Hence, the transformation of the military to cope up with the national and international stability may lead to changed role in future military service.

As an individual who is in military service, it is clear that transformation of the military to an innovative and sophisticated one may change the role of each and every individual in the service. Before summing up, it is important to brief the main findings. The theory on international security formulated by Barnett predicts the transformation of military owing to security challenges of the new millennium. So it is evident that transformation of military will result in unswerving change in one’s future military service.

Besides, one may be forced to serve in far away countries and deal with national and international security problems. But one’s duty towards his/her motherland as a citizen and as a part of the military is to protect the motherland and it is helpful to face security problems with immense confidence and self-respect. Works citedBolt, Paul J, Damon V. Coletta, and Collins G. Shackelford. American defense policy. JHU Press, 2005.