Jumat, 23 April 2010

Broadening Security in International Relations : an Asian Perspective


Security is a core concept of international relations. In the classical perspective (realist), it was believed that the only threat to the security of state is the foreign invasion and interstate war. In the present, the concept of security changed to be broader beyond state level and towards the individual level along with the development of international relations, especially after the cold war. While basic physiological human needs have changed, the conceptualization of security and the approaches to achieving and maintaining security have changed considerably. The new approach to security is needed because the analytical frameworks that have traditionally explained wars between states are now largely irrelevant. This approach to security is called ‘human security’.

The term of securitycan be interpreted in the three forms , In the "traditional meaning", security viewed as an attribute of state, absence of military conflict, military security and it referring to the phenomena in international relations directly or inderectly caused by inter-state relations; security as a public good and security in a universal sense (of a unit and of a social entity) – human security. Besides, in english notion, the term security is deriving from Latin securus safe, secure - the quality or state of being secure or as a freedom from danger (freedom from fear or anxiety). In the classical sense or what Cicero termed security refers to the absence of anxiety upon which the fulfilled life depends (Liotta 2002, p. 477). In his work of realism, Hans Morgenthau define national security as integrity of the national territory and its institutions” (Morgenthau 1960).

For too long, the concept of security has been shaped by the potential for conflict between states and equated with the threats to a country’s borders. For its consequence, nations have sought arms to protect their security. But now, for most people, a feeling of insecurity arises more from worries about daily life than from the dread of a inter-state event. Job, income, health, environmental security are emerging concerns of human security all over the world. So, the concept of security must change from an exlusive national security to people’s security, from security through armaments to through human development, from territorial to food, employment and environmental. (Human Development Report 1993 - www.undp.org/hdro/e93over.htm).

In the case of Asia, the premise “traditional security has failed to deliver meaningful security” is become reality. For most Asian people, the greatest threat may come not from war, but from disease, hunger, contamination, crime, environmental and terrorism. For many indeed, greater threat may come from internal state, than external. But, being wedded still to traditional security, Asia’s government spend more to protect their citizens against external military attack than to guard them from enemies of health. But, viewed from the perspective of Asia’s condition, there are at least three reasons why the paradigm of Asia's security is still not moved to non-traditional perspective. First, Asian states still faced by problems of economics and shrinking foreign assistance, so they have had to make difficult budgetary choice to reduce the level of public services. Second, there has been an increasing trend in recent internal armed conflict to manipulate supplies of food and medicine. Third, terrorism. Recent experience of Afganistan, before 11 september 2001 showed how corrupt and ineffective governance is a cause of misery for millions in that country : development, education and human rights, all ranked around the worst in the world. At the same time, Indonesia experience threat from terorrism which have impact upon international peace and security. Now, the war on terror has reinforced the need to go beyond the traditional security framework. Terorrism must be dealt with multifaced approach that embrances the social, economics, polical as well as military dimensions. In South Asia, the expanding of globalization are posing an alarming threat to the marginalized and poor. Jennifer Bennet argues that structural adjustment conditionalities have reduced the state’s role in economic. Here, the masses are clearly neglected and human security then came into question.

The questions then arrise – how to achieve contemporary security described above? In classical approaches security of the state could be achieved by appropriate policy measures, strengthening power, balancing power, wars, sanctions, boycotting, etc. Broadening and deepening the concept of security itself needs further considerations of democratization which was supposed to increase probability of peaceful cooperation; its permits securitization (desecuritization) which could be stimulated by the politicians and/or by the media; its makes regulatory measures (policy making, actions) too general, moralistic and sometimes self-evident – do not let people to be hungry, save the environment.

At the first glance it can be perceived as equivalent to fulfilling the basic needs – food, water, shelter, medical care. But, here comes a similar doubts in the case of contemporary security. How to define the minimum fulfilling the basic wants? How to define the ways to achieve the minimum – solely by the interested individuals or groups or in cooperation and assistance from the others? How to agree the rules of market – risk, liberalism free entrepreneurship, etc. with the needs to eliminate the want? In many cases rational actors, instead of relying on their own initiative would wait for initiative by the others. In respons to the questions above, it may concluded that the concept of human security is at present rather an ethical, ideological, political and institutional issue. The institutional sense of this term is connected with international organizations, especially the UN. Analogically, the broadening of security has two side’s sword. Broadening security has positive impact for international relation from its cooperation and thew growth multinational and transnational corporation as a tanda kemajuan ekonomi. But, broadening security also has negative side, such as the weakening of state position as a dominant actor facing the complexity of human security issues.

In my conclusion, the discourse of security is becoming more difficult. This broadening of security reflects the changing international environment. International relations is continually evolving and the concept of human security is increasingly being included high on the policy agendas of international organizations, governments and not-for-profit groups. In Asia, the transformation of security needs to maintainand more motivated for the challenge of time have no longer focused on the military, but more to the low political issues.


References :
Commission on Human Security (2003) Human Security Now (New York: Commission on Human Security) available at www.humansecurity-chs.org/finalreport/english/finalreport.pdf (accessed 10 november 2009).
Glenn, J. C. & T. J. Gordon, 2002. 2002 State of the Future, The Millennium Project, American Council for the United Nations University: Washington, D.C.
Halliday, F. Two Hours That Shook the World (2002) Saqi Books, London
Human Development Report 1993 - www.undp.org/hdro/e93over.htm. (accessed 10 november 2009).
Human Development Report 1994 - www.undp.org/hdro/e94over.htm. (accessed 10 november 2009).
Morgenthau, H. J., 1960. Politics Among Nations. The Struggle for Power and Peace, 3rd edition, Alfred A. Knopf: New York
Liotta P. H., 2002. Boomerang Effect: The Converegence of National and Human Security, Security Dialogue, vol. 33, no. 4, pp. 473-488
The Australian News Online, http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25407576-601,00.html (accessed 10 november 2009).
United Nations Press UN Agencies highlight climate change impact on human security, health: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=22793&Cr=environment&Cr1 (accessed 10 november 2009).



1 komentar:

  1. kak choco... aku boleh minta bantuan ga? minnta nopenya donk, aku mahasiswa baru HI brawijaya malang, aku masih banyak bingung soal HI, aku pengen konsultasi, pengen bgt! kalo bersedia, kirim di emailku ya kak,,
    mala_aghisna@yahoo.com

    thx before :)

    BalasHapus