Question One
Undoubtedly, the terrorist events attendant to the Terrorist attacks of the World Trade Center in New York and Washington on September 11, 2001 provided the instantaneous spark or rather excuse for what has been referred to as the War on Terror. This represented a coming to a head of the development of many theories in security studies to explain the events before and after 9/11. The three theories selected to explain the explanatory power or lack thereof when applied to 9/11 are Realism, Social Constructivism, and Liberalism.
Realism encompasses as a sequence of methods in security studies that are used to examine the nature of how nations achieve security including the specification of the ideal strategy to be used for achieving the given objective. Speaking of 9/11, nations have categorized themselves based on their potential in realizing objectives aimed at fighting terrorism, and this is based on their powers (Collins 16). As such, states use power to access one another and the structure of each state are examined based on unitary, rationality, and sovereignty (Collins 17).
Liberalism offers an orientation that calls for a better conduct of nations in international issues with the hope that peace will prevail. Relating Liberalism to 9/11, nations have decided to cooperate in achieving security in international relations. Other than nations, other societies such as international and non-governmental organizations have been included in the fight against terrorism. Simply put, Liberalism welcomes the concept of using the structure and nature of the international system to fight terrorism (Collins 16).
The theory of social constructivism operates under the concept that the world is composed of constructed actions of nations (Collins 50). Relating to the terrorist activities of 9/11, the goals pursued by nations, the security agencies and structures that have been installed since the attacks and the interests of powerful nations in their pursuance of fighting terrorism can be used to show how social constructivism plays a role in security studies.
Question 2
Terrorism may as well be the most sensitive word in the world of security studies and political science. Its definition has been subjective and polemical due to the different activities of terrorism and the range of information supplied by different media channels. Equally, the extent of negativity associated with terrorist activities has further complicated attempts aimed at defining terrorism. Scholars and players in the academic community have also failed to arrive at a consensus regarding the true definition of terrorism thereby leading to a lack of a comprehensive definition of terrorism in international law (Collins 341).
Terrorism refers to the systematic use of force, power, or violence against nations, individuals, or property, and the act of terrorism is aimed at intimidation, ransom, or coercion. It can be viewed as an issue that must be resolved using three perspectives; war on terrorism, criminal terrorism, and terrorism as a disease (Collins 339). From the events attendant to the 2001 assassination of President McKinley of the US to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, terrorism has created fear among the public. Currently, terrorism and terrorist activities are addressed depending on the agency dealing with the issue. For instance, the FBI, CIA, and other state departments in the US have different definitions regarding Terrorism and terror activities.
Question 3
The spread of nuclear weapons is a critical issue in international relations and security studies because analysts and scholars are worried of because of a possibility of a nuclear war. Developments of nuclear energy mean that the possibility of a state going nuclear increases the risk of war. The quest for nuclear proliferation is due to fear of possible conflicts with enemies and hence, nations arm themselves in readiness for preventive attacks. Currently, analysts believe that the United States and Israel are likely to launch attacks against nuclear sites belonging to Iran. There are high possibilities that Iran might launch a full-scale due to its nuclear programs and the level of hostilities directed emanating from other states. If left to continue with its nuclear program, the activities of nuclear proliferation will trigger the growth of nuclear states and thus, the spread of nuclear weapons.
Question 4
Environmental security is an important security concept that brings numerous practical and critical dimensions to many states. The primary threat of environmental security is human activity and hence, it calls for a shift in reasoning for action geared towards the realization of the complete socio-ecological system of the globe (Collins 219-220). Environmental and social changes have been major factors that have undermined the realization of environmental issues. Other limitations include difficulties in differentiating between environmental security and security problems. Increasing debates regarding the concept of militarizing environmental issues and concepts regarding the social security paradigm have generated increased concerns aimed at finding the connections between violence and environmental change (Collins 210).
Question 5
Humanitarian intervention refers to a UN Charter that depends on the principles of noninterference and sovereignty of external actors (Collins 362). According to humanitarian intervention, it is the duty and right of external actors to undertake intervention measures aimed at halting cases of mass atrocities and genocide (Collins 363). Contrary to the aspect of absolute sovereignty, it is the duty of states to note only intervene but as well the right to undertake intervention measures. With the presence of an international agreement on humanitarian intervention, coupled with the minimum standards available for the enforcement of humanitarian intervention, I believe that these form the necessity for humanitarian intervention. Such situation applies to cases relating to mass killing, genocide, and ethnic cleansing.
The advantages of humanitarian intervention include the presence of an international agreement and acceptance of this right of protection. A substantial limitation or rather criticism is based on its liberalist stand (Collins 364). Realists argue that the lack of meaningful laws that govern international human rights means the lack of a structure to enforce them. Clear examples where Humanitarian intervention failed is the 1994 Rwandan Genocide and Bosnia Genocide. In both instances, the states failed to protect citizens leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of innocent citizens. Equally, the presence of international peacekeeping missions did remarkably little to save the lives of innocent human beings.
Question 6
War is a planned, armed, and frequently an extended conflict between nations, countries, or parties. There are number of reasons why leaders and states go to war. The main reason why countries go to war is ideological differences in terms of economic, social, and political perspectives. This causes include; the search for power and superiority, competition for resources and differences in religion and beliefs.
The art of warfare in the last two decades has undergone a very big transformation. There have been the development electronic warfare technologies, night vision equipment, unmanned vehicles, and sensors. This has led to the reduction in the number of lives of soldiers lost in the war front. This technological transformation has revolutionized the battlefield. (Collins p. 408)
A country can secure itself from military threats from other countries or groups by maintaining powerful armed forces and arsenal use intelligence to identify and defeat threats and guard top-secret information.
Question 7
Human security is the focus on human life, protecting it and promoting peace at the same time. It also involves protecting the humankind from harmful disruptions in their daily lives. Its concept is to center attention on severe local and regional effects excluded from the states agenda. States are always focused on protecting itself from external aggression by avoidance and use of force. (Collins p. 123)
The impediment to the implementation of the human security is the differences about the degree to which it is implemented. This is because the state only refers to the issue when its interests are affected. The distinction between human security and societal security is that the first identifies the referent subject as the person whereas the later puts priority on the security of the state.
Question 9
The culmination of cold war permitted security studies to go further than the limitations of the leading pragmatist and no pragmatist perceptions, with rising attention to further, nonmilitary ideas of security. Those who aspired to widen the scope of the studies campaigned for the addition of environment and resources. (Collins p. 203)
Societal security was reconsidered during the Western Europe integration and the Eastern Europe disintegration process with the re-conceptualization of social security, a key view of survival identity. (Collins p.204)
A society is said to be threatened if it is facing threats in the following categories; Vertical competition, Migration and Horizontal competition and its identity is in doubt. The threats may be as result of suppressive measures denying them freedom of expression. (Collins p.207)
If the threat is associated with its territory and their historic homeland, then this calls for a military means to defend itself. This turn out to be the defense of the state sovereignty. However, if it happens at an intra state level, most societal groups lack armed protection. Consequently, this limits them non-military measure to counter the aggression. (Collins p. 210)
Question 9
Transnational crime during the 1990s was expanded because of international trends including globalization. According to media, intelligence and military sources, the emerging trends created new avenues for the transnational crimes build up. (Collins p.429)
Currently, transnational crime is an ‘organized crime’ since its activities consist of profit-motivated crimes resulting in high level of returns. This brings about penetration of the economy through the investment of illegitimate profits. Present-day transnational crimes are more inclined and mutually helpful to the legal economy (Collins p.431)
Transnational crime has become a national security threat. It ignores the rule of law and negatively affects the investment by foreigners because of increased crimes. The sovereignty of the host country is compromised because of the criminal’s capacity to dodge border controls. (Collins p.439)
The connection between Terrorism and transnational crime has been evident in the recent past. Recent evidence shows that there has been merger of criminals and terrorists sharing jail cells to build up interests in combined criminal and terrorist activities once released. A good example is the Madrid Bombings in 2004 where a drug organization played a key role. (Collins p.437)
Question 10
Coercive diplomacy is the use of threats or limited force to in order to change a behavior of a state, non-state actor or a group in a state.( Collins p. 279)
The ideal policy framework’s focal point is the application of coercive diplomacy to oppose aggression. The policy gives an explanation and the outcomes prediction with a minimum success circumstances on the foundation of the coercer’s measures only. (Collins p. 284)
Theoretically, it is easy to achieve success in Coercive diplomacy. Success resulting from sanctions and threats are referred to as cheap success while successes resulting from limited force use add up as expensive ones. Conformity can only be regarded as success if the result is long lasting. (Collins p. 285)
Applying coercive diplomacy is hard because its success requirements are contradictory. For success to be realized, the coercer should both scare and assure the antagonist at the same time. The success eventually rests on psychological, emotional and perceptual factors hence a miscalculation or misperception will overcome even a well-implemented plan that otherwise satisfy the success requirements. (Collins p. 292)
Work Cited
Collins, Allan. Contemporary Security Studies. 2nd edition. Oxford University Press.
2010. Print
