Chapter 6; security, nuclear weapons, and terrorism Flashcards
national security
A fundamental value in the foreign policy of states secured by a variety of tools of statecraft, including military actions, diplomacy, economic resources, and international agreements and alliances. It also depends on a stable and productive domestic society.
widening school of international security
Sometimes called the Copenhagen school, these are authors who extend the definition of security to include economic, political, societal, and environmental policy areas.
realist view on national security
- Military power is essential in supporting the primary objective of a state’s national interest: survival.
- In an anarchic, state-centric system, war is inevitable.
- Self-help: no other state or institution can be relied on to guarantee your survival.
liberal (grotian) view on national security
- Nations should practice collective security as a means of cooperation and assured protection of national interest, sharing the use of resources.
- Nations have shared responsibility for foreign policy successes and failures.
- Wars undertaken for purposes of expediency are unjust. Defense of life and defense of property are just causes, but if the cause of war is unjust, all acts arising from it are immoral.
- Anticipatory self-defense is forbidden.
- Complete security is impossible.
global humanist (Kantian liberals) view on national security
- Arms reduction is a desirable step toward disarmament.
- The international norm against the use of nuclear weapons should be strengthened.
-Security policy should be guided by a sense of human solidarity that transcends the nation rather than by a desire to maximize national military power. - Human interest should take priority over national interest.
marxist view on national security
- National security is the protection of those who own the means of production.
- There is no need for a large, oppressive military force if people are not oppressed and exploited by a small and powerful group of capitalist elites.
- Inequality is the main security threat in the global
absolute gains
The notion that all states seek to have more power and influence in the system to secure their national interests. Offensive neorealists are also concerned with increasing power relative to other states. One must have enough power to secure interests and more power than any other state in the system—friend or foe.
absolute gains
The notion that all states seek to have more power and influence in the system to secure their national interests. Offensive neorealists are also concerned with increasing power relative to other states. One must have enough power to secure interests and more power than any other state in the system—friend or foe.
security gains
A regional group of countries that have the same guiding philosophical ideals—usually liberal-democratic principles, norms, values, and traditions—and tend to have the same style of political systems.
social norms
A mode of collective action that challenges ways of life, thinking, dominant norms, and moral codes; seeks answers to global problems; and promotes reform or transformation in political and economic institutions.
postmodernity
An international system where domestic and international affairs are intertwined, national borders are permeable, and states have rejected the use of force for resolving conflict. The European Union is an example of the evolution of the state-centric system
weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)
A category defined by the United Nations in 1948 to include “atomic explosive weapons, radioactive material weapons, lethal chemical and biological weapons, and any weapons developed in the future which have characteristics comparable in destructive effects to those of the atomic bomb or other weapons mentioned above.”
revolution in military affairs (RMA)
The effect generated by the marriage of advanced communications and information processing with state-of-the-art weapons and delivery systems. It is a means of overcoming the uncertainty and confusion that are part of any battle in war.
tactics
The conduct and management of military capabilities in or near the battle area.
asymmetric conflicts
In symmetric warfare, armies with comparable weapons, tactics, and organizational structures do battle. Wars are fought on near-equal terms. When stakes are high and those actors in conflict are not equal in terms of weapons and technology, the weaker side adopts asymmetric tactics such as guerrilla warfare, roadside bombs, attacks on civilians, and other terrorist tactics.
a COIN strategy might include…
- providing security for the local population and preventing attacks against civilians,
- protecting infrastructure and providing safe regions for civilians,
- helping local government provide basic services for citizens, and
- helping shift loyalties from insurgents to local authorities.
a counterterrorism strategy includes…
- using technology to hunt and track the enemy,
- sharing intelligence with other states, and
- targeting insurgent leadership with unmanned drones and covert operations.
hybrid warfare
the use of gray zone tactics that include cyberattacks, propaganda, subversion, economic blackmail, sabotage, sponsorship of proxy wars, and, at times, aggressive military expansion. Several nation-states, including Russia, Belarus, China, and Iran, employ gray zone tactics to secure their interests.
new wars
Wars of identity between different ethnic communities or nations, and wars that are caused by the collapse of states or the fragmentation of multiethnic states. Most of these new wars are internal or civil wars.
fragile states
A state that has not yet failed but whose leaders lack the will or capacity to perform core state functions.
nuclear deterrence
Explicit, credible threats to use nuclear weapons in retaliation to deter an adversary from attacking with nuclear weapons.
non-nuclear weapon states (NNWs)
A state that is party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, meaning that it does not possess nuclear weapons.
nuclear terrorism
The use of or threat to use nuclear weapons or nuclear materials to achieve the goals of rogue states or revolutionary or radical organizations.
noncompliance
The failure of states or other actors to abide by treaties or rules supported by international regimes.
EU security priorities include…
1.Democratic governance support for fragile states.
2. Limiting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
3. Addressing extremism and combatting terrorism.
4. Finding ways to prevent violent conflict within and between states.
5. Dealing with the security challenges resulting from climate change.
6. Focusing on cyber security and dealing with disinformation that disrupts order and stability.
7. Exploring strategies that address poverty that is often the cause of violent conflict.
8. Managing economic crises such as trade wars and resource dependencies that could lead to instability in the international system.
global war on terrorism positives
Worse-case scenarios have not been realized.
* A world war has not broken out and the operational capabilities of the major terrorist groups remain limited.
* A major terrorist network has not developed.
* ISIS has been defeated in its attempt to build a caliphate in Syria and Iraq.
* Various attacks have not resulted in major political gains.
* Cooperation among security officials aimed at thwarting terrorist attacks is increasing across the world
global war on terrorism negatives
The terrorist enemies persist and have survived US and other Western efforts at stopping them.
* The extremists seem determined to continue their attacks.
* Jihadis have a powerful ideological message that is attractive and convincing to many individuals on the margins.
* Although defeated in one area, many extremist groups are resilient and continue to harm innocent civilians and simply do not quit.
* Fragile states or ungoverned territories act as incubators of terrorist activities and recruitment.
* Citizens remain fearful and limit their travel and participation in society, although governments have been very successful at containing terrorists
materialism
In this context, it is the spreading of a global consumer culture and popular-culture artifacts like music, books, and movies. Christopher Lasch called this the “ceaseless translation of luxuries into necessities.” These elements are seen as undermining traditional cultural values and norms.
