, Global Security (lecture notes)
GLOBAL SECURITY (LECTURE NOTES)
LECTURE NOTES
1
, Global Security (lecture notes)
Contents
Lecture 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................3
Lecture 2 Traditional approaches to security..............................................................................8
Lecture 3 Constructivist and the Post-Structuralist Critique.....................................................14
Lecture 4 Critical security studies and securitization theory....................................................20
Lecture 5 Feminist and gender approaches to security.............................................................26
Lecture 6 post-colonial and non-western approaches to security.............................................32
Lecture 7 Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation...........................................................35
Lecture 8 Counterterrorism in 'the war on terror'......................................................................38
Lecture 9 Civil war and political violence................................................................................45
Lecture 10 Counterinsurgency and peace operations................................................................50
Lecture 11 Human Security and Climate Change.....................................................................56
Lecture 12 Borders and Migration............................................................................................63
2
, Global Security (lecture notes)
Lecture 1 Introduction
What is global security?
Definition:
o Security, in an objective sense, measures the absence of
threats to acquired values, in a subjective sense, the absence of
fear that such values will be attacked (Wolfers, 1962)
"an essentially contested concept" (Buzan) that creates "disputes
about its proper use" (Gallie)
o Survival (freedom from life-determining threats) OR Survival-
plus (freedom to have life choices)?
o Definition depends on who is talking (a general, diplomat,
activist, etc.)
o Close relationship between academic and policy world
Whose security are we talking about?
The referent object: what is it that needs to be made secure?
o Traditionally: the state / the national interests
o But also the individual, the ethnic group, society as a whole,
the environment, the planet…
o Not independent: the security of one may be dependent on the
security of the other (relative concept)
o It's a matter of perspective
What counts as a security issue?
Buzan 1991
o Military offensive / defensive
o Political stability of states
o Economic resources and welfare
o Sustainability of societal traditions and customs
o Maintenance of the local and planetary biosphere
Traditionally,
o preference given to external rather than internal threats (War
between states etc.)
But… end of cold war and globalization questioned the
preference for external threats
o Focus on extreme threats and measures
But… diversity of approaches in security studies
criticized the realist approach to the study of security
3
GLOBAL SECURITY (LECTURE NOTES)
LECTURE NOTES
1
, Global Security (lecture notes)
Contents
Lecture 1 Introduction.................................................................................................................3
Lecture 2 Traditional approaches to security..............................................................................8
Lecture 3 Constructivist and the Post-Structuralist Critique.....................................................14
Lecture 4 Critical security studies and securitization theory....................................................20
Lecture 5 Feminist and gender approaches to security.............................................................26
Lecture 6 post-colonial and non-western approaches to security.............................................32
Lecture 7 Nuclear Disarmament and Non-proliferation...........................................................35
Lecture 8 Counterterrorism in 'the war on terror'......................................................................38
Lecture 9 Civil war and political violence................................................................................45
Lecture 10 Counterinsurgency and peace operations................................................................50
Lecture 11 Human Security and Climate Change.....................................................................56
Lecture 12 Borders and Migration............................................................................................63
2
, Global Security (lecture notes)
Lecture 1 Introduction
What is global security?
Definition:
o Security, in an objective sense, measures the absence of
threats to acquired values, in a subjective sense, the absence of
fear that such values will be attacked (Wolfers, 1962)
"an essentially contested concept" (Buzan) that creates "disputes
about its proper use" (Gallie)
o Survival (freedom from life-determining threats) OR Survival-
plus (freedom to have life choices)?
o Definition depends on who is talking (a general, diplomat,
activist, etc.)
o Close relationship between academic and policy world
Whose security are we talking about?
The referent object: what is it that needs to be made secure?
o Traditionally: the state / the national interests
o But also the individual, the ethnic group, society as a whole,
the environment, the planet…
o Not independent: the security of one may be dependent on the
security of the other (relative concept)
o It's a matter of perspective
What counts as a security issue?
Buzan 1991
o Military offensive / defensive
o Political stability of states
o Economic resources and welfare
o Sustainability of societal traditions and customs
o Maintenance of the local and planetary biosphere
Traditionally,
o preference given to external rather than internal threats (War
between states etc.)
But… end of cold war and globalization questioned the
preference for external threats
o Focus on extreme threats and measures
But… diversity of approaches in security studies
criticized the realist approach to the study of security
3
