international security Flashcards
1
Q
security
A
- when there is low probability of threat or damage to citizens, govn’t, territory, resources, wealth, or values (culture, identity)
- can never be completely assured for any state
- individuals & states can feel insecure due to real threats & violence or imagined/perceived threats in international system
2
Q
geopolitics
A
- association between state’s political relationships & it’s geographical location
- once thought to be main source of country’s security or insecurity
- considers things like access to resources, relationships with neighbours (whether they’re helpful or harmful), how strong a country is, how many people live there, and the natural features of the land.
- still important today, but international security is now thought of differently
3
Q
insecurity
A
- state is insecure if its unable to provide for itself as a govn’t or for its citizens
- international security is about conditions caused by insecurity
4
Q
causes of insecurity
A
- involves threats to a physical place, person, group, or important values felt by the community (including resources & identity)
- threats can be physical, economic, political, culture, or environmental
- only environmental security has potential to affect us all
5
Q
international anarchy
A
- condition where there’s no ‘world govnt’ + sovereign nation-state is highest authority in international system
- condition in international relations that has been around for centuries + fundamental to study of international system
- contributes to rising frequency of conflict
- with anarchical international system, state security is left to individual ability of states & their relations with other states
- means citizens have identifiable institution (state or govn’t) that they can look to for protection, representation, & guidance
6
Q
security dilemma
A
- international anarchy creates security dilemma for states
- assumption that not all states can be secure (given limited resources) + conflict is inevitable
- states respond to security dilemma in various ways, defence spending is most common method (strategies used by govn’t regarding allocating funds for military purposes)
- defence spending policies based on assessments of risk & capability
7
Q
war in international relations
A
- not all conflict is war
- but all war is consequence of conflict
- states use foreign & defence policies (strategies & actions taken by govn’t in realms of international relations & national security) to form responses to potential conflict in world & war must be considered ‘policy’
8
Q
use of power in ‘negative manner’
A
- states protect their sovereignty by threatening use of military force in protection of territory
- stated or understood threat of military intervention for failure of adhere to demands
- threaten or use trade bans & physical blockages to influence behaviour of other states
- use purely military force in order to accomplish goals
9
Q
war & power
A
- states can use their powers of influence (gained through respect & authority in international system) to avoid conflict
- send representatives to negotiate with other states
- sometimes use threat of power to persuade states from taking actions deemed harmful to international system
- long standing discussion about whether Canada is war-fighting or peacekeeping nation (reality is somewhere in between)
10
Q
are we more ‘war-like’
A
- comparisons to history are controversial;
- record account of war today is more detailed & accurate than in past
- are many more states in world today
- different interpretations of term ‘war’ in history
- generally accepted that in past 3200 years; more than 3000 violent conflicts
- since wwII, war is likelier in developing world
- more advanced & developed regions less likely to have violent conflicts
11
Q
terrorism
A
- strategy of violence designed to bring about political change by instilling fear in public at large
- since 9/11, terrorism is prime source of insecurity
- 9/11 attacks changed global security issues
12
Q
terrorism beliefs
A
- believes violence is only way to achieve political change
- political systems are illegitimate (political structures cannot be changed, so they must be destroyed)
- terrorism is difficult for govn’ts to predict & respond to + is relatively inexpensive & accessible to carry out
- many states recognized as legitimate by others support terrorist actions (Saudi Arabia, Syria, North Korea,.. are ‘sponsoring’ states)
13
Q
terrorism as a unique threat
A
- cannot be treated simply as crime, ignoring its political nature
- reacting as one would to conventional threat might give terrorists legitimacy in eyes of their supporters or observers
- policies implemented to combat terrorism often affect civil liberties (surveillance, security measures, laws to detain people easier)
14
Q
humanitarian interventionism
A
- interference in affairs of sovereign state with intention of reducing suffering felt by people in that country
- may be justified as means to help others but will always be contentious & challenging
- John stuart mill; right & responsibility of civilized states to act in ways that promote international morality & ethical principles
- holocaust led to renewed attention to intervention
15
Q
peacekeeping
A
- placing of military & civilian personnel in conflict area as attempt to stop or contain hostilities or supervise carrying out of peace agreement
- less common, but best example of modern conflict management
- primary intent of UN was to manage conflict
