Traditional Notions: External

What is Security?

Security is the freedom from threats that threaten a person’s existence and way of life. However, it is important to consider the core values of a country, not just the individual citizens. Security relates only to extremely dangerous threats that could damage core values beyond repair if not addressed. Surprisingly, societies have always had the same conception of security, as many things change in the world around us. There are two groups of security notions: traditional and non-traditional. By dividing the various notions of security into traditional and non-traditional conceptions, we can better understand the complexity of the concept and its relevance in today’s world....

Traditional Notions: External

Traditional security conceptions focus on military threats, endangering sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. Governments have three basic choices in response to war threats: surrender, prevent the other side from attacking, or defend themselves when war breaks out. Security policy focuses on preventing war, deterrence, and limiting or ending war. A balance of power is also a key component of traditional security policy, as countries are sensitive to the strength of their neighbors and may choose to be aggressive in the future....

Traditional Notions: Internal

Security depends on internal peace and order, and a society cannot be secure if there is violence or threat of violence inside its borders. Traditional security must also concern itself with internal security, as after the Second World War, it seemed that most powerful countries were more or less assured. After 1945, the US and the Soviet Union appeared to be united and could expect peace within their borders, while most European countries, particularly Western European countries, focused primarily on threats from outside their borders....

Traditional Security and Cooperation

Traditional security views acknowledge cooperation in limiting violence, focusing on self-defense and protecting others from genocide. War must be limited in terms of the means used, avoiding killing or hurting noncombatants and unarmed combatants. Force should only be used after all alternatives have failed. Disarmament, arms control, and confidence building are important forms of cooperation in traditional security....

Non-Traditional Notions

Non-traditional security views extend beyond military threats to include a wide range of threats affecting human existence. They question the traditional referent of security, which is the state with its territory and governing institutions. Non-traditional security views are called ‘human security’ or ‘global security’. Human security focuses on the protection of people more than the protection of states. Proponents of this view argue that the threat agenda should include hunger, disease, and natural disasters, as these kill more people than war, genocide, and terrorism combined. The broadest formulation of human security includes economic security and ‘threats to human dignity’. Global security emerged in the 1990s in response to global threats such as global war, international terrorism, and health epidemics. International cooperation is vital, even though it is difficult to achieve....

New Sources of Threats

Non-traditional conceptions of security focus on the changing nature of threats to security, including terrorism, human rights, global poverty, and health epidemics. Terrorism is political violence that targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately, with international terrorism involving citizens or territory of more than one country. Human rights have come to be classified into three types: political rights, economic and social rights, and the rights of colonized people or ethnic and indigenous minorities....

Cooperative Security

Nontraditional threats to security require cooperation rather than military force. While military force can combat terrorism and enforce human rights, it is difficult to determine its effectiveness in alleviating poverty, managing migration, and controlling epidemics. More effective strategies involve international cooperation, which can be bilateral, regional, continental, or global. This may involve international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, corporations, and great personalities. Force may be used as a last resort to deal with governments that kill their own people or ignore their suffering. Non-traditional security is better when collectively sanctioned by the international community....

India’s Security Strategy

India has faced both military and non-military threats to its security. Its security strategy consists of four components: strengthening its military capabilities, strengthening international norms and institutions, and meeting security challenges within the country. India has conducted nuclear tests in 1998 to safeguard national security, and has joined 160 countries in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions....

Conclusion – Class 12 Political Science Notes Chapter 5 Security in the Contemporary World

In conclusion, the chapter “Security in the Contemporary World” provides a comprehensive overview of the various security challenges facing the world today. It is an essential read for anyone who wants to understand the complex and ever-changing nature of security. The chapter concludes by discussing the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the world in terms of security. It argues that the world is facing a number of complex and interconnected security challenges, but that there are also a number of opportunities to address these challenges and build a more secure world for all....

Security in the Contemporary World- FAQs

What is the focus of Chapter 5 of Class 12 Political Science?...