Significance of Globalization in International Security Studies - Article Example

Discussion on the significance of globalization in international security studies Contents Contents 2 Introduction 3 Discussion 4 Impact of globalization on international security 4 Conclusion 14 Bibliography 16 Introduction Globalization can be termed as a multidimensional phenomenon. Information technologies have been growing at a rapid pace along with other forms of technologies. There is even rapid expansion of trade in the global context along with the flow of capital as well as private investment. Through globalization there are a lot of interdependencies that has increased. The developments that have been caused by globalization are the basis of economic prosperity and it promotes peace and even facilitates spreading of political freedom. However there are certain negative consequence that are caused by globalization such as social fragmentation that produces powerful forces, it is even giving rise to violence, it even encourages on critical vulnerabilities, and conflict across the borders. There even the growth of economic crisis across the state borders and even facilitates global hardships. These elements form the core of globalization and all of the factors have an impact on the international security. Globalization in the current scenario is growing as one of the most important and influential architect of the new agenda of international security. The impact on globalization in this key area is very contradictory in terms of relationship evolution amongst the various states. There are two aspects of globalization on one hand it has been able to cause rapid developments across the borders and on the other end it creates high level of risks on the issues of international security. The concept of globalization has caused an accelerated effect on the productive forces development, technological as well as scientific progress, and even has facilitated the level of communication amongst the different people and across states. On the objective forum globalization has been benefitting mankind to develop on the resource base and even on the potential intellectually so as to ensure international security on a new qualitative level. There is interdependency amongst the people and countries due to globalization at every possible sphere that has even enhanced the generation of different forms of political approaches. The main focus of these approaches is to develop mechanisms on the basis of democratic multilateral schemes that would contribute towards managing the international system as well as provide some of the reliable solutions for the various security issues. Discussion Impact of globalization on international security There has been a diverse impact that has been created by globalization on the international security in relation to international terrorism. The aspect of security in the era of globalization has become very complex as well as multi-dimensional. The traditional approaches that are being used in the settings of national borders do not possess the capability so as to identify the new threats that are prevalent across the national borders. The more challenging factor that has grown along with globalization is that of terrorism and the fight against this issue has become one of the most important areas of concern for all the countries. 1The various forms of risks apart from that of global error require effective cooperation in terms of security. The most dangerous impact of globalization is that there are variety of threats that has become global in their nature and their effects has also turned to be serious and the main reason behind such a change is the rapid spread of knowledge, dispersion in the form of various advanced technologies, and the increased movements of people across the borders.2 The same form of developments along with the expansion in terms of economic interactions globally, has contributed majorly towards the resentment and problems that forms the basis of security threats that are being noticed on an international forum. On the contrary there are certain opportunities that are offered by some of these aspects so as to achieve democracy as well as economic growth and hence it substitutes the threats that are posed by globalization and also their underlying causes. 3The threats to the international security can be clearly depicted by the terrorist attacks on September 11th that indicated how the Al Qaeda organization was able to incorporate various new forms of communication technologies, enhancing the ease of the people’s movements and even exploiting the financial networks globally.4 There are various transnational threats that has been increased by globalization which basically comprises of proliferation, weapons, ethnic violence, drug trafficking, cyber attacks, global crime, spreading more of infectious diseases and environmental degradation. The term “globalization” can be defined as an integration of the social, cultural and economic relations that exist across the borders. 5The concept of globalization is responsible for creation of different forms of transboundary mechanisms that reflects as well as affects the interdependencies between the security, economic and political factors. As per the analysis of the security factor of globalization one of the most important factors of highly complicated mechanisms of international security is that of international terrorism. 6This problem of international terrorism has been noticed by many nations as in the era of globalization when there are strong connections that are developed amongst the nations and there exist a lot of interdependencies. This form of interdependencies amongst the different nations poses a real threat to the international security. 7There are also many states that are noticing such form of threats in terms of international terrorism from the past many years. The terrorist attacks at the United States has created an alarming condition for all the other nations that has been witnessing some form of terrorist attacks over the years. The major issue of international security in the past years used to be just the military threats and the issue that used to arise beyond the borders of a nation.8 The term national security was traditionally used as deployment, acquisition and the maximized use of military forces so as to achieve the goals of a nation. There has been wide range of changes that has been caused by globalization and such changes are not limited to the economic or financial spheres. However the major challenges that are posed by globalization is on the international relationships and the reason behind this situation is decreasing amount of gap between the external and internal politics and also limited distinction between the domestic and international security. Though the trend of globalization has an impact on the agenda of international security but it is not that easy to conclude as to what extent this new era decreases or increases international security. The era of globalization has not only been reducing the capacity that is possessed by a state in terms of traditional security but also there are significant changes amongst the states. The nature of threats has also changed due to globalization and the threat can no longer be considered as a competing community but rather weakens internally the communities. 9Globalization has resulted into civil conflicts in areas such as that of in Africa and Yugoslavia in which the civil wars were posing a great threat across the world. The civil conflicts that are disrupted much of the international security conditions cannot be ignored with the evolution of globalization. The rise in the level of terrorism is a major implication that has been caused on international security and the main reason behind such an issue is globalization. The major form of terrorism is in the form of WMD that stands for weapons of mass destruction. 10The WMD has a potentially very destructive impact that lies in the hands of the enemy nations and they always try to identify some of the preventive strategies. In the current scenario there is more spread of technologies and ideas in the global context that is facilitating more the disaffected groups and many states to design most dangerous weapons so as to cause terrorist impacts on other countries. The flexibility that globalization brings with it has positive impact in the form of exchange of ideas and easy movement of people but has diverse negative impacts and the major amongst those impacts is that which is caused on the platform of international security. There is certain other implication that is caused on security due to globalization though it is very difficult to judge whether such an impact has been improving the conditions of security or are deteriorating the conditions.11 The impact that is caused by globalization differs from region to region as it depends on the capacity of a particular region to adapt to the changing scenario and so as to meet the challenges that are created by globalization. Hence the problem lies on generalizing the impact that is caused by globalization to be destabilizing or stabilizing effects on the international security. The most important aspect is that the era of globalization states that it is out of the control of a nation to pose a control on some of the non-physical attributes such as those of technology and information assets protection. 12As per analysis on the impact of globalization the more efforts are maintained on protection of information and technology the safer nation tends to be in relation to the aspect of security. There is no such benefit of maintaining a vast military power without having any form of control on the information technology. On the other hand one of the biggest challenges that is posed by globalization is states can exercise any form of control over the movement of information and technology. The other major issue of globalization is the fact that majority of the private sectors are the ones that take control over the production of arms and this results into transnationalization of such defence products and brings down the level of control that a region can have over such production. The factor of globalization has resulted into more of transnationalization of threats as the region cannot control the flow of information, technology, pollution and diseases and in this context eve the aspect of terrorism cannot be controlled alone. 13Transnationalization’s biggest impact is that it has eliminated the division that existed previously between external and internal security and it has become increasingly important for regions to take into consideration such aspects while formulating different policies related to security. Globalization also poses serious threats to the economic security as it has facilitated economies that are information based and has reduced the importance that was earlier created by national industries.14 The more of emergence of foreign direct investment for growth and development in the local economies has make these regions more prone towards facing international crisis as they become more dependent on other countries for their domestic operations. The economic security has taken a new level as there is a rise in globalization across the globe. 15Through this globalization the regions seems to get more sensitive towards the military developments and security issues of other regions as there is extended relationships between these regions in terms of financial, economic and trade factors. With the era of globalization there is advancement in the communication technologies that has been creating vital impacts on certain sphere. For instance the Kosovo conflict that was due to broadcasting of casualties and mass deportation on the television channels and the conflicts had risen to such a great degree that there was pressure created by international public for intervention. Globalization has made nations to loose on power which may have not been the case if there was proper control exercised by individual nations on the media and information technology. Globalization has also caused an impact on the way wars used to be executed and the strategy that were developed behind such wars. 16This condition with the emergence of globalization process has become worse as the security threats cannot be easily monitored nor can be measured properly and even poses difficulties in tackling such threats. The major agents of threats can be that of state but can also be of non-state such as those of organized crimes, militias, terrorist, cults, etc. The effect of globalization is such that it makes it very easy for the countries to reach out to some of the weapons that cause mass destruction and thus it poses a threat on the international forum that is asymmetrical in comparison to its size. Globalization possesses technological dynamics that encompass proliferation of WMD that makes its power that is asymmetrical in nature to turn into more dangerous form. The process of globalization on the wider aspect supports the element of terrorism. 17This era had given rise to small group’s marginalization and economic and social inequalities in such a condition the factor of terrorism was greatly supported by many of the marginalized citizens that are located in such nations and has increased its presence in the global context. Globalization has tend to make people in the lower end of the economic and social spectrum realize that they cannot demand to possess equal shares in the global world and are often not considered by bigger nations that has led to these people showing their reaction in the form of forming groups and encouraging terrorist attacks that has posed a question on the international security. 18These reactions can also be termed as the emergence of wide scale of terrorism against the concept of globalization. The process of globalization in the initial stages were more related towards development with the scope of opportunity and it focused on the growth of integrated economy in terms of free flow of cash, free trade and acquiring cheaper labour from the foreign markets. However down the lines the factor of globalization has caused an impact on the social context and also on the economic context. The ones who are supported globalization states that this factor has led to various forms of benefits across the globe and in the future it would result into more of democratic, peaceful and policies that would be market oriented so as to develop international markets that are stable by nature. On the contrary who is not favour in globalization has always stated that it is the prime reason that has caused changes in the environment of global security that collaboratively has increased the climate in terms of security conditions in one region while in some other regions it has decreased the level of security conditions. However there are still chances that can be explored by the forces of globalization so as to improve upon the stability existing amongst the greater powers on the condition of giving opportunities so as to integrate upon the economic conditions and that of the rivals that existed in the previous security conditions. Like some other economic policies the factor of globalization can have a stabilized impact on certain nations and on the other hand the same factor can cause destabilizing effects on some other countries. Though in certain context the process of globalization has enabled various slow growing nations to take a front place in the competitive environment but on the same context the negative implications of globalization has been disrupting the security conditions that were much better and strong in certain countries that seems to witness a deteriorating phase after there has been emergence of globalization in the modern era. The negative impacts of globalizations constitutes of increase in the level of destruction that is caused on the environment, and even acts as a catalyst for the increased rate of violence that is being noticed across the globe. The new era is often blamed for creation of identity politics as the process results into formation of economies in parallel way which has given rise to new ways of illegal and legal ways of making the maximum amount of profit. The concept of globalization has also given birth to new forms of criminal activities and facilitated the various new forms of business such as drug smuggling, hostage taking, arms dealing, etc. It is a much real condition that there is a potential impact that is caused by globalization on the international security. Globalization that takes place in a rapid phase has the forces that can result into various forms of conflicts in different developing countries and can simultaneously undermine the relations in security terms that are exist within or between the nations. 19In the scenario of 1990s the gap that was widening in the various regions across Eastern Europe which was more coupled with the concept of identity politics had caused genocide. The inequalities that are prevalent in these regions have given rise to parallel form of economies that enhances illegal and corruption activities. Ukraine is one of such nations that has greatly indulge into dealing with arms and considers it to be one of the most important form of currency and through these measures that the region has opted it has become of the most famous dealers of small arms illegally. This action that has been undertaken by the region has resulted into various forms of conflicts with Afghanistan and Iraq. The developing and under-developing countries are the ones that face the majority of the risks that are prevalent in the fast changing pace of a global economy. The economic globalization can cause serious impacts on the developing countries in terms of decreased levels of security conditions if proper regulatory measures are not implemented in these regions. In the same context the process of globalization has caused serious impacts both on the national security as well on the economic security of the United States. This nation has the most prominent role to play in the world affairs and in such a case it becomes important for the country’s policy makers that would reduce on the level of risks that is posed by the process of globalization and would facilitate more of national security across the borders. The economic policies that is in accordance with that of foreign aid governance needs to be reconsidered by the policy makers as there is often misuse of such foreign aid that is needed by many groups and majorly the military forces so that they are able to do war effectively. 20The concept of economic globalization has been able to pose serious challenges to the international security conditions that exist from the post cold war conditions. It has been able to enhance the security conditions of some of the major powers across the globe but on the other hand has undermined the security conditions of some of the developing countries in the global context. For instance, in the scenario of United States the factor of economic globalization has been able to enhance stability and spread more of democracy across the region. On the contrary the same condition is not prevalent across the developing countries but the process of globalization tends to become a gradual process then all of the countries across the globe would be able to explore much of the benefits that exist in the globalization process. In this context the most appropriate measure that can be undertaken by United States is in the form of multilateral approach towards all forms of international relations so as to ensure that there is proper international security and stability across the globe. The advantages of globalization can only be bought into limelight when the transnational threats that disrupts the framework of international security are subjected to strict regulations so that no form of illegal activities are caused in the era of globalization. Conclusion The dimensions and characteristics of globalization are well determined by the international community in terms of its threats and possible opportunities. The transnational threat that occurs due to the operations of globalization is the major risks that cannot be ignored by the nations. The various dimensions of globalization indicates that there is a need of new security approaches so that it can tackle the different international risks that is prevailing across the borders. All the broader international communities along with United States needs to consider the aspect of the threats that are caused to international security so that they can ensure preventive strategies and also facilitates major political resources and capital. There also lie the needs to explore more of the opportunities that are offered through globalization so as to build democracy as well as promote more of growth economically. The traditional approaches that has been incorporated by policy makers and international security needs to undergo a change so that these issues can be dealt with properly. Much of the threats that are posed to international security can be discarded to a great extent through effective policies that promotes democracy and economic growth. The major stake in the development of these strategies is that of military forces as they can take much of the burden when there is any failure of the strategies that would be implemented so as to reduce the impact on the international security that is caused by globalization. The military forces should play an active role in planning out various forms of strategies so as to encounter emergencies that are resulted due to the dangers that are associated with globalization when the opportunities of this process is not realized or when there is materialization of threats towards transnational threats. In the present scenario of the environment related to international security the focus is not majorly on the border security of individual regions but it is more of a broader aspect of deeper dimensions on the security and the interdependencies that are present in the global security conditions. Bibliography Aydinli, Ersel, and James, Rosenau. 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