INTERNATIONAL AND

GLOBAL SECURITY
JOHN BAYLIS
INTRODUCTION TO SECURITY CONCEPTS

Definition of security: Protection

from threats to core values at
individual, national, international, or
global levels.

-Traditional focus during the Cold

War: National security, primarily
defined in militarized terms.
THE NOTIONS OF SECURITY

Barry Buzan’s Human Security Climate Change as a Holistic Approaches to Globalization and
Expanded Security View Security Concern Contemporary Security
Insecurities

Barry Buzan’s work “People, The concept of “human -Climate change has Paul Rogers and others -The era of globalization has
States and Fear” advocates security” emphasizes the emerged as a significant advocate for a paradigm led to debates about the
for an expanded view of individual as the primary security concern. shift in addressing relevance of traditional
security. focus of security analysis. contemporary insecurities. notions of security.
-It has implications such as
-This view includes political, -The COVID-19 pandemic geopolitical rivalries over -They emphasize the need -Globalization has
economic, societal, and highlighted the resources and risks of for holistic approaches to transformed the state and
environmental aspects, interconnectedness of nuclear proliferation due to global challenges like presented new security
along with military public health and national shifts in energy sources. inequality, unsustainability, challenges such as
considerations. security. and climate breakdown. terrorism, cyber conflict, and
nuclear proliferation.
DIFFERING PERSPECTIVE IN IR

Realist Liberal Institutionalism

Liberal institutionalists argue for the
view international relations as a struggle for
importance of international institutions in
power among states.
promoting cooperation and mitigating
conflicts among states.
Influential thinkers like Hobbes and
Machiavelli have shaped these
They draw from examples like the
perspectives.
European Union and NATO.
Alternative Approaches - Social Constructivism
View structure as an important determinant of states’ behavior
Social structures consist of both material arrangement as well as ideas
and concepts.
Security dilemma => States are distrustful; therefore, they define their interests
in terms of “self-help”.
Security community => States trust each other to resolve disputes peacefully.
The ideas and concepts that shape states’ behavior are called the
structure of shared knowledge.
Wendt => “Logic of reciprocity” leads to the shared conception of power; “policies
of reassurance” leads to the shared knowledge necessary for a security
community.
Disagreement over whether security dilemma can be escaped
One side claims that structures are restricting. => cannot escape
Another side claims that international systems contain “slack.” => A social
transformation is possible.
 Critical Security Studies
Characteristics Critical Theory Human Security
Ask the following Robert Cox’s problem-solving Focus on individual
questions theory vs critical theory An attempt to take into account the
What is Problem-solving theory cultural, religious, and ethnic conflicts
security? tries to find a solution Amitav Acharya => challenges to
How do we security come from internal conflicts
within the confine of the
and transitional changes => global
study it? status quo. international politics
Divert away from Critical theory finds out Contested concept
the focus on states how relations and Too broad to be conceptually useful
Desire to institutions come to be Risk neglecting international
conceptualize and how to change them. political changes
security in a States are diverse and often “Freedom from fear” or “Freedom
different way from want” or both
a part of the insecurities.
 Critical Security Studies
Feminism Post-Colonialism Post-Structuralism
Literatures are mostly written Euro-centric and great The importance of idea, discourse,
from a “masculine” perspective. power-focused security and logic of interpretation in
Cynthia Enloe’s gendered studies understanding international
analysis of national security => Neglected non-western security
patriarchal structure of privilege insecurities and Realism causes international
and control legitimizes violence approaches as well as insecurity
in every level. Viewing the world through the
misrepresentation of the
Integral exclusion of women lens of power politics leads to
role of the west in world
from international relation competition.
politics
A new study of security, Therefore, introduction of new
therefore, must consist of a Bryony Vince => look to
discourse of a more cooperative
fundamentally different view of approaches that do not
world is essential to the
international security. necessarily appear like a
achievement of international
Jill Steans’ proposal theory
security.
Geopolitics in the age of globalization

Main debate questions:

1. Are globalization and geopolitics compatible with each other in the
modern world?
2. Is the world reverting to traditional power dynamics or is a new soft
power-based geopolitics emerging?
Case study on the Nagorno-Karabakh, an autonomous Armenian-majority
relations of geopolitics oblast within Azerbaijan SSR territory, was demanded
and insecurity in the
modern world: The jurisdiction by Armenia after the dissolution of the USSR.
Second Nagorno- Guerrilla warfare happened as a result from 1988-1991,
Karabakh War (2020) followed by the first Nagorno-Karabakh War from 1992-
1994.
The Armenians controlled the self-declared Republic of
Artsakh in the territory after the war. Low-intensity conflicts
with Azerbaijan persisted until 2020.
Militarily backed by Turkey, Azerbaijan started The Second
Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020. Russia, concerned with
regional stability relevant to its security, attempted to
broker ceasefire agreements which succeeded after
Artsakh's major loss.
Nagorno-Karabakh was located close to strategic oil and
gas pipelines and between regional powers namely Russia,
Turkey, and Iran. Hence its high geopolitical importance.
 Brian Boulet (2001): globalization and
geopolitics represent different policy approaches.
Geopolitical policies aim to establish control

Geopolitics over what the territory contains.

Globalization is the opening of national
space which can expand the flow of goods

is still and capital.

Douglas E. Streusand (2002): globalization and

relevant geopolitics do not oppose each other.

Geopolitical analysis is still relevant.
Policies made by geopolitical analysis do not
contradict the principles of globalization.
 In the South China Sea, China, Vietnam, and the
Case study on the Philippines have been disputing over the Paracel and
Growing Tension Spratly Islands, various atolls and reefs, and the
in the South and Scarborough Shoals. Each proves their ownership through
East China Seas their historical and geographical evidence.
In the East China Sea, China and Japan have a conflicted
claim on the Senkaku Islands (Diaoyu Islands by the
Chinese.)
China's BRI and ‘string of pearls’ strategy has caused
concern for Australia, Japan, and India.
Supported by the U.S., Australia opened a major military
base in Papua New Guinea in 2018 and has taken the
initiative to establish an alliance for joint overseas
investment with the U.S. and Japan.
In 2021 the AUKUS arrangement was set up, with the US
and UK providing Australia with technology including
nuclear-powered submarines to counter China's assertive
moves.
 Richard Bernstein and Ross Munro (1998): Traditional
geopolitics is as important as ever and requires a change in
American grand strategy (a shift or pivot towards the Pacific).
Asia's eastern rim, from the Russian Far East to the
Philippines and Indonesia, is a crucial band of territory
The U.S. and that would determine whether China would dominate Asia
or the U.S. and its alliance could counterbalance China's
China in rise.
The shift, however, shows how geopolitical analysis remains

Geopolitics influential to the strategic thinking in Washington. Chinese

strategies also signifies the same thinking in Beijing.

Graham Allison (2017): The current situation would mean a

Thucydides Trap for the U.S. and China; they are prone to dive
down into a disaster unless more respect for each other is
shown.
 Ellen Frost (2001): globalization is changing the world
Traditional geopolitics radically.
Independent networks and flows interconnect the
challenged world system.
Transnational external threats are rendering
Richard Falk (2012): traditional geopolitics was
west-centric and dominated by the U.S.
traditional geopolitics such as the balance of power
“Old Geopolitics” will be irrelevant in a irrelevant.
decolonized or non-U.S.-led world.
“New Geopolitics,” with its emphasis on soft The Russian invasion of Ukraine in a broader global
power is emerging. context, according to some writers, signifies that
The BRICs, the rising importance of non-state
Russia and China saw the opportunity to challenge
actors, and the U.S. “winless withdrawals”
from Iraq and Afghanistan are evidence that
the liberal rules-based international order after the
hard power, the indicating factor in “Old U.S. and the Western forces’ withdrawal from
Geopolitics” is becoming less important. Afghanistan.
 Yes
Is the US- Global Power is shifting from the West; the rise of China and the BRICs
will reshape the world order.
Trump's ‘America First’ has rendered the U.S. incapable of leading and

led liberal dominating the world order. (Acharya)

The US-led world order was always limited to a group of friendly states,
hence there was never really a world order.
Putin's war against Ukraine has brought an end to the current world

world order.

No
order The U.S. is still powerful.
Biden is committed to reconstituting the U.S. leadership and the U.S.-led
world order.

over? The D-10, a cooperation of top planning officials and strategy experts from
10 democratic countries will help build and maintain a rules-based
democratic order.
Alternative to the US-led world order is still unclear.
Summary of the part
For some, globalization can bring greater peace and security, for
others, the challenged economic and political status quo would bring
forth greater fragmentation and conflict.
Some think geopolitics would prevent overly dominant states from
happening, while others think the “Old Geopolitics” is the source of
constant violence and wars.
Globalization Questions of contemporary
international and global
and the future security
of world 1. What continues? And what changes?
2. In what way can we view “security”?
order
How does globalization changes international politics?
Poses new challenges for national and international security
1. Positive impact
a. Connection, interdependence and WMD increase states’ need to cooperate.
2. Negative impact
a. Challenges posed
i. Challenges lead to internal and interstate conflicts.
ii. Proliferation of weapon technologies in the context of unravelling arms control
treaties
b. States facing these challenges decide to act unilaterally and focuses on national
security. => A challenge to multilateral cooperation
 Continuity in contemporary international
security
Early post-cold war period saw a lessening of competition from security dilemma.

Now, major geopolitical changes, use of military force and regional conflicts => Russo-
Ukrainian war, China’s military activity around Taiwan and western responses
This reflects
Military force => continue to be a tool of conflict arbitration and challenging of status
quo
Resulting challenges to international security
Conventional arms race
Nuclear, biological and chemical weapons’ increase importance
Psychologically unstable and ambitious politicians
Lack of agreement from difference in culture and value as well as resulting tension
Water, food, energy and immigration as sources of conflict
Developing great power relation
“Crisis of international institution”
 John McCain
“...we have seen steady erosion of liberal order and
What threaten institutions that protect it... [Citizens of many nations]
seem to have given up on the very idea of liberalism
the itself.”

contemporary G. John Ikenberry

world order? “...fast emerging states have a different set of cultural,

political, and economic experiences... they do not share
the concerns of advanced capitalist states.”

Writer Igor Ivanov

major geopolitical changes, use “The traditional centres of global politics are unable to
of military force and regional play a leading role in establishing a new order... yet
conflicts there is nothing to replace it... Over the past two
decades Russia and China have been promoting the
idea of a ’multi-polar world’...”
 Historically, world orders have been transient.
The future
So, is the US-led liberal world order declining?
What kind of order may come after that? of world
The US-led liberal world order is challenged
by the invasion of Ukraine. order
Many in the west argues that western Many non-western thinkers sees the western
liberal world order maintains liberal world order as serving western
international security on the Global- interests as well as undermining non-western
level states and non-state actors’ security

Amitav Acharya => The emerging order is the “multiplex world” = Politically and
culturally separated, while economically interdependent
At the moment of “reglobalization”, great power can forge a functional
partnership that ensure peace and stability or engage in competition and
divide the world.

The Question is, therefore, ‘should we revive the US-led liberal world order?’
Conclusion
Ukranian Crisis => no sign of shifting to a more peaceful world order
Structure of international system, geopolitical challenges,
authoritarian political systems, arms race, hybrid warfare, and the
forces of nationalism => constraints on individuals, states and
international institution
Predominance of realist attitude
Discussion and discourses about geopolitics can be self-fulfilling.
Diversity, mistrust and uncertainty pitch attempts for more
cooperation up against states’ own security
How national, international and global security can be achieved in this
turbulent time remains a challenge for international relations’
students.
 Weaknesses Strengths
In-depth knowledge about the topics was not The comprehensive coverage gives
well emphasized. a good introduction to the study of
Overemphasis on state-centric approaches
International Relations.
overshadows other possible analyses.
The distinction between global and
Diverse perspectives and variable
international security was unclear. case studies were presented to
The topic of global security is rarely explain the debates on geopolitics.
discussed. The case studies and examples
The geopolitically related economic aspect of provided are chronologically
international security is neglected; for
relevant.
instance, China’s use of economic tools is not
discussed as an international security issue.
Questions
1. Are realism and neoliberalism useful approaches in explaining international
politics? Or are they discourses or shared knowledge? If so could they be
supplanted? How?
2. Would geopolitics be relevant in a non-US-led world?
3. Would there be a way for the U.S. to re-emphasize the dominance of hard
power in the international order, reviving the “Old Geopolitics”?
4. To what extent do environmental issues such as climate change and resource
scarcity contribute to geopolitical tensions and security threats?
5. How do emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence reshape traditional
concepts of security?
6. How much danger does weapon of mass destruction poses to contemporary
international security?