TRADITIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES
In the conventional view of state security, the primary threat was perceived as solely military in nature. However, contemporary security concepts recognize various risks beyond just military aspects.
Today, safeguarding security poses a significant challenge for states. The complexities of challenges, risks, and threats to security can manifest on national, regional, and global scales. While global armed aggression has notably diminished due to societal development and globalization, new national or regional armed conflicts persist, often escalating from terrorism or disputes over borders and territories between states.
Military conflicts have transformed into lucrative ventures for powerful nations and platforms for showcasing strength. The twenty-first century presents numerous security challenges for states, with terrorism emerging as a prominent threat at global, regional, and national levels. Furthermore, all forms of organized crime—national, transnational, and cross-border—pose significant risks to a country's security.
The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction theoretically stands as a potentially grave threat to global and regional security. However, ongoing smaller conflicts at national and regional levels currently cause more damage, despite the theoretical prominence of WMD threats. These armed conflict threats encompass the massive use of conventional weapons and WMDs, jeopardizing the security of both the state and its populace. These threats can be categorized as external threats—such as armed aggression, intervention, and pressures from outside the state—and internal threats like armed rebellions and civil wars.
Traditional security challenges encompass a range of threats that have long been recognized as significant risks to the stability and safety of nations and their citizens. Some of these challenges include:
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Military Threats: Historically, conflicts between nations have often arisen due to territorial disputes, ideological differences, or resource competition. Traditional military threats involve conventional warfare, such as the deployment of armies, navies, and air forces.
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Terrorism: Though not a new phenomenon, terrorism continues to pose a significant challenge. It involves the use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce societies or governments, often driven by political, ideological, or religious motives.
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Espionage and Cybersecurity: The infiltration of government systems, stealing of sensitive information, and sabotage through cyber means pose significant challenges. Traditional espionage has evolved to include sophisticated cyberattacks that can disrupt critical infrastructure and compromise national security.
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Nuclear Proliferation: The spread of nuclear weapons and technology to non-nuclear states or non-state actors poses a grave threat. It heightens the risk of nuclear conflicts and the potential for catastrophic consequences.
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Border and Maritime Security: Managing and protecting borders, coastlines, and maritime territories against illegal immigration, smuggling, piracy, and other transnational crimes is a constant challenge for many nations.
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Arms Trafficking: Illicit trade in weapons, including small arms and light weapons, poses a threat by fueling conflicts, exacerbating violence, and destabilizing regions.
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State-Sponsored Aggression: Aggressive actions by governments against other nations, whether through direct military intervention or support for proxy wars, can lead to regional instability and conflict
Non-Traditional Security Challenges (NTS)
Non-traditional security challenges (NTS) encompass a diverse array of global issues that extend beyond traditional military threats. These challenges pose significant risks to the stability, safety, and well-being of societies and nations. Some of the prominent non-traditional security challenges include:
Cybersecurity Threats: With the increasing reliance on digital technologies, cyber threats have become a major concern. These include hacking, data breaches, cyber espionage, ransomware attacks, and disruptions to critical infrastructure, posing risks to national security, businesses, and individuals.
Climate Change: Environmental degradation, rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and resource scarcity are all consequences of climate change. They impact food security, water availability, migration patterns, and can lead to conflicts over diminishing resources.
Pandemics and Health Crises: The outbreak and spread of infectious diseases, as witnessed with events like the COVID-19 pandemic, highlight the global vulnerability to health crises. Pandemics disrupt economies, strain healthcare systems, and require coordinated international responses.
Terrorism and Violent Extremism: Non-state actors engaging in terrorism and radical ideologies pose significant threats to global peace and stability. Their activities lead to social unrest, fear, and often necessitate comprehensive counter-terrorism measures.
Transnational Organized Crime: Illicit activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking, money laundering, and arms smuggling create complex security challenges, undermining governance and societal stability across borders.
Humanitarian Crises and Mass Displacement: Conflicts, natural disasters, and socio-political instability often result in large-scale displacement of populations, creating humanitarian crises that strain resources and require international assistance.
Economic Instability and Financial Crises: Economic vulnerabilities, financial market instability, trade disputes, and economic disparities can lead to regional or global economic crises, impacting livelihoods and exacerbating social tensions
Differences between Traditional Security Challenges and Non-Traditional Security Challenges
| Subject | Traditional Security | Non-Traditional Security |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of Threats | Mainly military threats, such as wars, conflicts, and invasions | Diverse and broad, including cyber threats, pandemics, climate change, terrorism, economic instability, etc. |
| Focus | Primarily state-centric, emphasizing protection from external military aggression | Inclusive of human security, addressing concerns affecting individuals and communities |
| Scope | Often national or regional in scope | Can be global, regional, or local in impact |
| Response Mechanisms | Often involves military, defense, and diplomacy | Requires multi-sectoral approaches involving international cooperation, diplomacy, law enforcement, etc. |
| Actors Involved | States, militaries, and international organizations | Governments, NGOs, international bodies, private sectors, communities, individuals |
| Historical Perspective | Rooted in historical conflicts and territorial disputes | Evolves with changing global dynamics and emerging threats |
| Emphasis | Protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity | Focuses on both state security and human well-being |
