International Security: Separating Everyday Life from Global Threats

This essay delves into the multifaceted realm of international security, exploring the interplay between everyday life and global threats. It begins by outlining the evolution of international security, emphasizing the shift from traditional state-centric concerns to a broader focus on global security, individual security, and societal well-being. The essay identifies key challenges to international security, including conflicts, corruption, terrorism, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It then examines the significance of international security in everyday life, arguing that it is impossible to separate the two. The essay further analyzes two prominent theoretical perspectives: humanitarian theory and realism. The essay concludes that international security plays a crucial role in fostering cooperation, mitigating risks, and ensuring the welfare of nations. The essay emphasizes that a practice-based approach is essential for understanding contemporary international security and its implications.

Theories of International
Security
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There are numerous of theories that have supported in formulating the concept of
international security. In the era of early 1990's with the end of cold war and emergence of
new security agenda, there has been promotion of the campaign for maintaining international
security (Bauman, Bigo and Walker, 2014). With the help of this it can easily secure the
practices of nation and region so that they may easily avoid the situation of risks and
challenges within the economy. The different challenges include increasing terrorists
activities, proliferation, increase in the level of corruption etc. These also act as the major
threat for the maintaining the level of security in the international market. Along with this,
the reality of contemporary society is that it assists in increasing the situation of privatization
process which further results in maintaining healthy relationship among the different nation
and region in the world.
Presently, the essay focuses on two assessment criteria. The first one is book review
that assesses the theoretical perspectives and key concepts regarding the international
security. The second assessment criteria is an essay that will focus on evaluating the
contemporary international security and to what extent practice-based approach assists in
studying them. It has also concluded that for sustaining international security in the modern-
day era there are many practices that demand to be followed by the nations and state to
ensure federal security.
ESSAY- IS IT POSSIBLE TO SEPARATE THE EVERYDAY FROM
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY TODAY, AND TO WHAT EXTENT
DOES A PRACTICE-BASED APPROACH HELP STUDY THIS?
In the present globalized era, security plays significant role as the states as well as
international organization collaboratively take effective steps in attaining survival and safety
practices (Bellamy, 2016). The steps or measures mainly include military activity as well as
diplomatic agreements that protect the international market from different issues and risks.
The concept of security is defined as the degree of resistance to protect from harm or
associated risk. The term must be applied to organization or nation. It has also been stated
that study of security was introduced to overcome the situation of War or armed conflict
among the nation that severely impact the living conditions of numerous people.
International security in the present era
In the present era, international security has taken new form as it mainly focuses on
the global security which is required by the international organization as well as states to
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assure proper survival and safety of the nations in the world (Bertot, Jaeger and Hansen,
2012). In this particular state, the nation has responsibility to defend their citizens from
foreign powers. The concept of security extended with the end of cold war and increasing
situation of globalization. In the contemporary era, there are different levels of security that
need to be protected in order to avoid the negative consequences. The foremost level of
security include security for the individual. Another is security of social group or community.
Third level of security include safety of state or nation. While, fourth level of security include
safety of region or location that is termed as regional security (Bueger, 2014). The fifth level
of security comprise of international security that consists of safety of all the states in the
world. The last level of security is known as global security and is concerned with safety of
planet. Therefore, from the different levels of security international security plays significant
role that assists the nation in physical and economic survival.
Challenges and issues related with everyday security
There are certain challenges as well as issues that are related with everyday
international security. These challenges also act as the major threat for the international
security that need to be addressed in the proper manner so that it may easily secure the safety
of nation (Burchill and True, 2013). The challenges mainly include conflict among different
nations, increasing rate of corruption, terrorism activities, situation of natural disasters etc.
that results in arousing concept of international security. Conflicts among the different
nations act as the key challenge for the everyday security as it may result in the situation of
war among the nations. In order to avoid war in the future, international security must be
granted to the nations (Caduff, 2012). The conflict among the nations may arise from
different parameters such as increase in the nuclear power. The rising nuclear power basically
results in creating more dangerous and complex environment that increases the risk of
conflicts.
Along with this, increasing level of corruption in the nations also act as the major
challenge and threat for the security. Corruption may be defined as accepting, offering or
allotting an unjustified reward for the authorization or non-commission of the activity
(Collins, 2016). A distinction is made between active corruption, which involves promising
or offering a person an undue advantage, and passive corruption, which involves soliciting or
accepting such an advantage. Bribery, graft, sweetheart deals, political pay-offs, influence
marketing etc. are few of the many faces of corruption. Along with this, corruption also act as
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the major threat for everyday security in the international market as it results in
accomplishing the security issues. However, in order to overcome the threat of international
security there are certain activities as well as actions that need to be undertaken so that
corruption could be tackled effectively (Côté-Boucher, Infantino and Salter, 2014). For
instance, government need to emphasize on imposing regulatory actions and enforcement so
that they can minimize the corruption level and attain international cooperation
(Czaputowicz, 2014). In addition to this, for minimizing the corruption it is essential to focus
on both formal and informal processes. The nation must engage in working with both
political and non-political groups that support in modifying their behaviour.
Terrorism activities are also considered as another challenge and issues in security
that also act as major threat to the international market. It results in loss of lives as well as
other losses to the whole society. Terrorism mainly focuses on intimidating the people or
nation or international organizations so that they may act in accordant with them (Côté-
Boucher, Infantino and Salter, 2014). Therefore, it is said that to ensure international security
it is considered as the key challenge and issue. The foremost example of Terrorism is 9/11
attack in America. This terror attack resulted in increasing the international security among
the nations. Therefore, the effects of terrorists attack has resulted in heightening the
international security by emphasizing on imposing different regulations related with the free
movement of travellers or visitors (Czaputowicz, 2014). Along with this, it also engage in
tighter the security and ensure adequate control on the borders activities to assure proper
security.
Preventing the spread and use of nuclear, chemical, biological, and radiological
weapons is essential for creating a more secure world. Proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) has been widely identified as the greatest potential threat to international
security. While the international treaty regimes and export controls arrangements have
slowed down the spread of WMD and delivery systems, a number of states and non-state
actors have sought or are seeking to develop such weapons (Dannreuther, 2014). The risk that
terrorists will acquire nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, radiological or fissile
materials and means of delivery, adds a new critical dimension to this threat. Opportunities
for mass-casualty terrorist attacks will increase with the advancement in technology and
weapons programs (Drezner, 2014). Example of armed conflict is among Kosovo and
Afghanistan as their instability has resulted in different problems and issues.
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Significance of international security in everyday life
From assessing the above challenges and issues it has been assessed that international
security plays significant role in the everyday life. This indicates that it is not possible to
separate every day from international security today (Fierke, 2015). It assists in maintaining
relations among the different nations and regions. As per the views of Gibson, Farbotko and
Waitt (2013) enabling international security also assists the nations in tackling the identified
challenges and issues that act as the major threat for the security (Gibson, Farbotko and
Waitt, 2013). The key significance of international security is that it assists in appreciating
globalization so that nations can easily assure security perspective while trading with the
different nations. On the other hand, the international security will also remove insecurity
aspect and assure possibility of international investment in the different nations. This will
further assist in enhancing the economic value of countries in the international market.
According to Hansen (2013) in the everyday life international security plays essential
role that helps in providing welfare, justice as well as prosperity among the different regions
and nations. They need to ensure proper political authority within the country that focuses on
framing different policies regarding maintenance of adequate security (Hansen, 2013).
Therefore, it results in enabling personal security with the overall national security. Along
with this, another importance of engaging in international security is that it supports the
nations in managing the situation of conflict and war within the nation. International security
is all about amalgamation of measures which are taken by states along with international
organizations operating in the market. In the modern era violence in the society is increasing
at a faster pace due to which importance of security has considerably increased (Horn, 2015).
This type of security focuses on reducing the overall impact of violence on the society so that
favourable results can be obtained easily. Apart from this, the subject matter is associated
with weapon type, effectiveness, tactics etc. In recent decades, the international security study
has come under pressure to widen in order to consider areas of inquiry. Further, it plays most
important role in everyday life of human being living in the society. It is the first and
foremost right of every individual to receive some amount of protection. Different type of
wars are being taking place in the society such as cold war, and this adversely affects people.
Therefore, with the motive to enhance international security against potential threats caused
by terrorism and other form of crime there have been increase in international cooperation.
This has led to transnational policing (Jackson and Nexon, 2013). This type of policy shares
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crucial information across international boundaries. This type of cooperation has supported
society in every possible manner.
Theories of international security
Humanitarian theory
The concept of human security has received popular attention very recently,
especially for the students of international relations and social sciences in general. This also
focuses on development to help vulnerable people, those who have been displaced by wars or
some sort of violent conflict, hence it is humanitarian based (Keiger, 2015). It emerged after
the Cold War era as a way to merge the assorted human-centered, economic and societal
issues to rationalize human suffering and verify their security level. It aims to achieve human
protection, promote peace of mind and assure sustainable development. For this, it makes use
of people-centred approach to resolve issues of inequalities that affect security (Krook and
True, 2012).
Realism
Another theory is realism which is a practice of international politics. It basically
focuses on the role of nation and focuses on making wide assumptions that are driven by the
national interests. However, Jonathan Haslam has characterized realism as range of ideas.
The theory mainly focuses on the concepts of power and security (Mearsheimer and Walt,
2013). Realists represent that in order to maintain the international relation it is required to
have power and security. For the realists, international organization does not matters as they
manage and secure the interest of nation and their people individually on their own. The
realism theory mainly assumes that the globe is dangerous place and in order to sustain in
such place, power is required (Bertot, Jaeger and Hansen, 2012). The main dependable form
of power include military power of the nation that support the nation to sustain in the harsh
world. Along with this, realism also asserts that the primary interest of the state is self-
preservation. It is the situation in which the state seeks power and protects itself (Ong, 2013).
During the cold war, Politicians have viewed worldwide relations with the philosopher lens.
Neither Soviet Union nor United States has trusted each other. Thus it enhances the political
pressures with the military forces.
Liberalism
Another theory of international security include liberalism that mainly emphasizes on
the relationship among the different states (Pain, 2014). This theory of international security
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was formulated in the 1970's as some of the scholars have argued that the claims of realism
theory was outdated with the changing scenario. Therefore, with the rise in technological
advancements as well as emergence of globalization, the international trade among the
different nations has enhanced (Political Realism in International Relations, 2010). Therefore,
the nation no longer will rely on the power of politics or government. Thus, it results in the
emergence of liberalism theory of international security. Broad approaches to international
relations are termed as theories of complex interdependence (Pouliot, 2016). The authors who
have supported the liberalism theory have asserted that the world is unsafe place. Therefore,
to sustain, it focuses on assessing the interest and needs of the states. Under the international
security theory, military power is not an effective form of power. There are some additional
powers such as economic and social powers that benefit the nation in the international
market. Exertion of economic power has been evidenced to be effective than the military
power among the nation (Schock, 2013).
Idealism
In the school of political orientation, idealism mainly focuses on pursuing the moral
goals so that nation may act ethically in the international field. Therefore scholars or idealists
states that trickery, dishonesty as well as aggression must be avoided (Sin and Kim, 2013).
Since World War 1 in United States the Democratic Party is associated with following the
idealism perspective.
Practice-based approach and international security
In order to maintain international security as well as relations among the different
nations it is essential to have practice based approach. This approach basically requires
practical or continuous activity so that they can engage in maintaining the relations. In the
challenging situation of proliferation it ensure growing security practices that support in
producing security policies for the region (Stiglitz and Rosengard, 2015). With the help of
practice based approach it results in studying the administrative procedure and professional
routines that assists in formulating the policies and strategies related with the security that
results in overcoming governance of insecurity. Therefore, it is said that practice theory or
practice based approach results in attaining the security as well as maintaining international
relations among the party. In order to fight against the insecurity, state must focus on using
practice based approach so that it may easily engage in the development of effective
strategies (Sylvester, 2012). For instance, countries like Africa face different security
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challenges that are related with proliferation of weapons, ethnic conflicts as well as rising
terrorists activities and emergence or activeness of criminal groups etc. Therefore to
minimize all the security challenges, it is essential for the region and state to engage in using
practice based approach (Walby, 2013). All the above mentioned factors importantly
contribute to the engaging in the challenging security perspective so that it may results in
non-volating the laws and human rights. Thus, the practical approach also support to the
maximum level in attaining the international security. Along with this, practical approach
may also be termed as the modern approach related with the security. It goes on the far side
of the traditional concept of the security to concentrate on the different issues in order to
develop the human rights (Mearsheimer and Walt, 2013). With this, the conventional concept
of security focuses on preserving vital interest that are grounded on the power of politics.
Therefore, it is assessed that with the help of practice-based approach in the everyday life
countries must develop effectual strategies to counter the insecurity challenges present in the
world. They do not overlook the different dimensions of the security as the safety of
individual is consider as the key ground for enabling the national security (Political Realism
in International Relations, 2010). Moreover, the practice-based approach mainly implies on
human security. This is because the individual security may result in national security. It
basically imply in creating the systems that assists in surviving as well as maintaining
livelihood that closely linked with the development. There are different accord of practice
based approach that focuses on different ways of conducting the practice so that they can
easily understand or study regarding the everyday international security. The different
epistemology are interpretive, reflective and pragmatic (Mallik, 2004). Under first
perspective the practiser analyse and measures the level of security in the international
market.
Limitation and benefits of practice based approach
There are certain benefits of using the practice based approach that is government or
politics can easily determine the level of risks and challenges within the international market
as they constant review and monitor the activities occurring within the states and region.
Along with this it has been also identified that practice based approach also benefit the nation
and region in reducing the level of corruption activities. These further support in maintaining
the adequate level of the security in the region and nation (Bauman, Bigo and Walker, 2014).
Moreover, it has been also measured that with the practice approach scholar can easily review
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and map the illegal activities so that they can modify them in order to grab effective relation
among the international countries (Bellamy, 2016). On the contrary it has been critically
analysed that sometime it may also act as the limitation for the international security if the
scholar has not practically review the actions and activities of the region.
What practices sustain international security today?
In order to sustain international security in the contemporary era there are numerous
practices that need to be followed by the nations and countries in order to ensure national
security. The practices mainly include enforcing national security policies under which nation
or region focuses on assuring security of nation that may be of securing political aspect,
economical or military perspective (Bertot, Jaeger and Hansen, 2012). National policy must
be related with maintaining effectual weapon forces, utilizing anti-terrorism measures etc. It
should also support in encouraging the level of cooperation as well as it also isolate and
diminish the political parties. In 2002 United States of America has enforced the strategy
National Security Strategy that impose different laws to ensure proper security of their nation
against the unwanted challenges and insecurities. As per the view of Bueger (2014) the key
purpose of imposing national security policy is to prevent the US nation and the residential
individual from any sort of harm or issues (Bueger, 2014). There are some other practices
also that sustain international security in the contemporary era. These have been discussed
below:
Creating security awareness program
For enabling international security in different region across the world nation must
engage in creating security awareness program rather it may be related with internet security
or personal security (Côté-Boucher, Infantino and Salter, 2014). The government must ensure
awareness practices that assists in engaging and maintaining international relations among the
different states. Along with this, practice also prevent in attaining the dispute situation so that
it may not escalate into the war. It also help in restoring peace among the different nation
when in the past armed conflict break out within the nation (Czaputowicz, 2014). As per the
view of Gibson, Farbotko and Waitt (2013) creating internet security awareness program
support the nation in preventing disclosure of necessary information or data to the other
nation. Along with this it also prevents the governmental confidential and private information
from hacking so that other nation may engage in violent activities.
Engaging with intergovernmental organizations
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Another effective practices that need to be followed by nation to engage in
maintaining international relation include linking the nation with the intergovernmental
organizations (Hansen, 2013). The primary aim of intergovernmental organization is to
constitute system related with collective defences that need to be performed by the member
states. This is required in order to ensure resolution of disputes and conflict arises among the
nation. Along with this, the key purpose of different international organization is to liberalize
the world trade as well as ensure proper security among the nation across the globe. Along
with this, engaging with the international organization are also termed as cardinal part of
maintaining international relations (Horn, 2015). The key international organization is United
Nation that was set up after the Second World War. Its key purpose was to address the
insecurities existing within the international relations systems. There are different issues
related with decolonization, cold war as well as oil politics etc. were the key issues that were
forefront in the international politics. On the other hand, some of the other international
organization that engage in maintaining industrial relation include International monetary
fund (IMF), World trade organization, International labour organization etc. These assists in
sustaining international security in the present era (Jackson and Nexon, 2013). In addition to
this, engaging with the organization also supports them in maintaining the relation. NATO is
an intergovernmental military alliance with 28 member states. Its key principle is to maintain
security at national level as well as in the international market. In the past Russia has attacked
many nations. Therefore, the key objective of NATO is to protect the country of Europe and
America from the situation of war and attacks (Keiger, 2015).
Recommending international practices, codes and standards
In order to sustain international security, another practice that nation must engage in
includes implementation of international practices, codes and standards which are related to
Security Council resolutions 1373 (2001) and 1624 (2005). It basically focuses on assessing
the number of issues that are increasing within the international marketplace. These mainly
include incitement of terrorist activities, violence activities etc. Along with this,
recommended practices also maximize the resolving power and maintain the level of security
among the nations (Krook and True, 2012). The above noted practices are mandatory for the
organization as well as within the state so that it may easily deal with the issues that are
related with provocation of wrong activities.
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From the above aforementioned essay it has been concluded that in the present
context of increasing globalization, concept of international security plays a significant role.
It assists in maintaining healthy relationship among the nations and regions. Along with this,
the essay also focused on understanding the different theories related to international security.
Humanitarian theory, realism, liberalism and idealist theory support in gaining and
understanding the concept of international security. In addition to this, the essay has also
concluded the significance of engaging in the international security. It supports the safety of
individual with the security of whole globe. Further, different challenges and issues are faced
by regions with maintaining the level of security. These challenges include increasing
terrorists activities, proliferation, increase in the level of corruption etc. that are also act as the
major threat for the maintaining the level of security in the international market. Further, it
can be inferred that for sustaining international security in the modern-day era there are many
practices that demand to be followed by the nations and state to ensure federal security. The
practices principally include enforcing federal policies through which nations reassure
security in the perspectives of political, economic or military aspects.
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