York University

1. International Security, Peace, and
Human Rights
International Security
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2. Three Critical Questions
• How do we define and understand “international Security”?
• In what ways are security and our attempt to achieve it, evolving?
• What can current debate over “nuclear non-proliferation” tell us about the state
of intl security today?
• How to keep the state secure from external military threats (the threat of nuclear
weapons)?
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3. How do we define and understand “international
Security”?
International security is a relatively new field of study
Security is a contested concept
To some its antivirus,
To some it’s the line to get through security in the airport,
To some its terrorism.
Security: measures taken by states to ensure the safety of their citizens,
the protection of their way of life and the survival of the nation state.”
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4. What does it mean to be secure?
In terms of national security: integrity of borders, independent control
of territory, economic wealth, military power and preservation of vital
interest.
What makes a human secure?
The United Nations Human Development Program (UNHDP) report
of 1994
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5. Definition of Human Security 1
“Human security can be said to have two main aspects. It means, first, safety
from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression. And second, it
means protection from sudden and hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life
– whether in homes, in jobs or in communities. (UNPDP 1994)
The protection of individuals and communities from war and other forms of
violence. (The Human Security Center 2005)
To protect the vital core of all human lives in ways that advances human freedom
and human fulfillment. (Alkiri 2004).
Freedom from want, freedom from fear and a life lived in dignity- which one
should be prioritized?
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6. 6
Defining Human Security 2
• Former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan
“During the Cold War, security tended to be defined almost entirely in terms of military
might and the balance of terror. Today, we know that ‘security’ means far more than the
absence of conflict. We also have a greater appreciation for non-military sources of
conflict.
We know that lasting peace requires a broader vision encompassing areas such as
education and health, democracy and human rights, protection against environmental
degradation, and the proliferation of deadly weapons.
We know that we cannot be secure amidst starvation, that we cannot build peace without
alleviating poverty, and that we cannot build freedom on foundations of injustice. These
pillars of what we now understand as the people-centred concept of ‘human security’ are
interrelated and mutually reinforcing.”

7. Traditional vs Modern Security Studies 1
Traditional International security:
Was state centric. Security is provided by states for states.
Focused on military power.
Typical subjects for study were inter-state war, traditional disputes,
security dilemmas, arms races and arms control.
Traditional security practices were deterrence, compellence, alliance
systems, arms control.
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8. Traditional vs Modern Security Studies 2
The Contemporary International Security:
The contemporary international security regards everything as a security
matter, ranging from traditional or conventional modes of military power to
new sources of threat.
Modern Security Studies is Human Centered
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9. Concept of security
Old concept of security
• Walter Lippman: “A nation is secured if its core values are not threatened and is
able to maintain them by victory in such wars.”
• Arnold Wolfers: “Security is absence of Threat.”
New concept of security
• Barry Buzan: security is about the ability of a state and society to maintain its
independence, identity and functional integrity.
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10. Traditional vs Modern Security Studies 3
Type of Security Referent Object of Protection Potential Threats
Traditional Security State Safety of the State Inter-state war and foreign
intervention
Civil Disorder
Nuclear Proliferation
Contemporary Security Human Safety and freedom of
Citizens
Economic threat (Poverty)
Health threat (Disease)
Environmental threat,
Personal threat, (Human
Rights Violations Conflicts,
Violence and Repression)
Political threat, Military
threat, social threat.
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11. Why it is important to understand the concept
of security?
Safety and security are the fundamental
drivers of human being
Complex and unexpected challenges
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12. Implications of human security
Nature of the threat; non-military
Referent object: all humans
Agents of security: inter-governmental, non-governmental, transnational.
Means of Security: fundamentally different than security of states
(emphasize on non-military).
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13. Where does Human Security Locate Threats?
• Drug
• Disease
• Terrorism
• Pollution
• Poverty
• Environmental Problem
• Failed States
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14. National Security
• What is National Security?
National security refers to the security of a nation state, including its citizens, economy, and
institutions, and is regarded as a duty of government. Government should protect the state
and its citizens against all kind of national crises through a variety of power projections such
as political power diplomacy economic and military power and so on. Originally conceived
as protection against military attack, national security is now widely understood to include
non-military dimensions, including economic security, energy security, environmental
security, food security, cyber security and so on.
• Aspects of National Security Threats
• International and national security are invariably linked. International security is
the state security or national security in global arena.
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15. New Threats and threat Perceptions
• Rapid climate change
• Ethno-nationalism and ideological wars
• Rise of non-state actors, 9/11 dramatically changed security thinking
of the world.
• Failed states, Madrid attacks, Paris attacks, and many more
•
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16. Five Sectors of Security by Barry Buzan
Societal Security
Political Security
Economic Security
Military Security
Environmental Security
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17. Five Sectors of Security by Barry Buzan
Societal Security: ‘about identity, about the self-conception of
communities and of individuals identifying themselves as members of a
community’.
• Migration
• Horizontal competition
• Vertical competition
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18. Five Sectors of Security by Barry Buzan
Political Security
• Security is – when state sovereignty is not challenged
• There should be no state within a state
• Successful power transfer from one govt to another
• Security against negative political transformation
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19. Five Sectors of Security by Barry Buzan
• Economic Security
• Economic threats are difficult to determine
• There is an important linkage between economic security and military
security.
• Economic security can be considered a key indicator as to the general
security of a state.
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20. Five Sectors of Security by Barry Buzan
Military Security
• Having legal status of arms
• Having ability to defend military with sophisticated weapons, troops,
technology, and training.
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21. Five Sectors of Security by Barry Buzan
Environmental Security
• This is economic related – how climate change hits economy. But still
has security aspects;
• Environmental degradation, draught, famines, food shortage, land
erosion, floods, rains, earthquakes, tsunamis etc
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22. Cyber security
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and programs
from digital attacks.
These cyber attacks are usually aimed at accessing, changing, or destroying
sensitive information, extorting money from users, or interrupting normal
business processes.
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23. Asymmetric Warfare 1
What is asymmetric conflict?
Definition: “asymmetric” warfare could refer to terror attacks, rebel
bombings, computer viruses, nuclear proliferation and everything in-
between, as long as antagonists failed to “fight fair” or “deviated from the
norm.”
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24. Asymmetric
Warfare 2
• Warfare between a state
actor and a non-state
actor
• Warfare between an actor
possessing strong
capabilities and an actor
with scarce resources
• Warfare between actors
pursuing different
strategic campaign plans
in the confrontation.
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