CHAPTER 7: SECURITY IN THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD

Q1) What is security?

1) Security implies freedom from threats.
2) Security relates only to extremely dangerous threats— threats that could so endanger core
values of sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, that those values would be
damaged beyond repair if we did not do something to deal with the situation.
There are two notions of security -Traditional Notion (Threats from military attack or war)
and Non-Traditional Notion (threats to Human/Global security).
Q2) What do you understand by the traditional notion of Security?
1) The referent is the state with its territory and governing institutions.
TRADITIONAL NOTION- EXTERNAL

The greatest danger to the security of a country is from another country which by threatening
military action endangers the core values of sovereignty, independence and territorial
integrity. Military action also endangers the lives of ordinary citizens. They are made targets
of war, to break their support of the war.
TRADITIONAL NOTION- INTERNAL

The internal notion of the traditional concept of security is concerned with threats from
within the country. A country’s security depends on internal peace and order and the absence
of violence within its borders.
This violence may be in the form of: separatist movements, civil wars, naxalite movements,
insurgency, cross border terrorism, national movements in colonies etc.

TRADITIONAL NOTION- EXTERNAL

Q3) How does the govt respond to military threats or war? OR what are the options
available to the state when security is threatened according to the traditional conception
of security?
In responding to the threat of war, a government has three choices:
1. TO SURRENDER: Governments may choose to surrender when actually confronted by
war, but they will not advertise this as the policy of the country.
2. DETERRENCE: A country may prevent the other side from attacking by promising to
raise the cost of war to an unacceptable level.
3. DEFENCE: A country may defend itself when war actually breaks out so as to deny
the attacking country its objectives and to turn back or to defeat the attacking forces
altogether.

Q4) What are the four components of traditional security in the context of external
threat?
1. DETERRENCE: A country may prevent the other side from attacking by promising to raise
the cost of war to an unacceptable level. (If the Q. Carries more marks-explain logic of
deterrence)

2. DEFENCE: A country may defend itself when war actually breaks out so as to deny the
attacking country its objectives and to turn back or to defeat the attacking forces
altogether. It means to limit or end war.

3. BALANCE OF POWER:
a) A large and powerful neighbouring country is a potential threat to another country even if
it may not be preparing for an attack.
b) Governments are, therefore, very sensitive to the balance of power between their country
and other countries. They work hard to maintain a favourable balance of power with other
countries, especially those close by, those with whom they have differences, or with those
they have had conflicts in the past.
c) A good part of maintaining a balance of power is to build up one’s military power,
although economic and technological power are also important since they are the basis for
military power.
4. ALLIANCE BUILDING:

a) An alliance is a coalition of states that coordinate their actions to deter or defend against
military attack.
b) Most alliances are formalised in written treaties and are based on a fairly clear
identification of who constitutes the threat.
c) The objective of forming alliances is to increase their effective power relative to another
country or alliance.
d) Alliances are based on national interests and can change when national interests change.
For example, the US backed the Islamic militants in Afghanistan against the Soviet Union in
the 1980s, but later attacked them when Al Qaeda-a group of Islamic militants led by Osama
bin Laden-launched terrorist strikes against America on 11 September 2001.
NATO is an example of a working alliance.
Addl Q. What are the objectives of military alliances? Give an example of a functioning
military alliance with its specific objectives.

1. The objective of forming alliances is to increase the effective power of the group of states
forming the alliance, relative to another country or alliance. Collective security ensured an
attack on one meant attack on all others.
2. During the cold war era, a state was supposed to remain tied to its protective superpower
to limit the influence of the other superpower and its allies. This resulted in formation of
NATO and the WARSAW Pact

NATO is an example of a functioning alliance.

a. After World War-II, most countries of Western Europe sided with the US,
representing the ideology of liberal democracy and capitalism. They formalized into a
military alliance, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO).
b. It came into existence in April 1949.
c. It was an association of twelve states which declared that armed attack on any one of
them in Western Europe or North America would be regarded as an attack on all of
them.
d. Each of these states would be obliged to help the other.
Eg USA, UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, etc

Addl Q. “Alliances can change when national interests change.” Comment and give an
example. (Explain point 4.)
Q5) What is the balance of power? How could a state achieve this? What is the
importance of Balance of Power?- Explain pt 3 of the previous Q.
Importance of Balance of Power:
a) Some countries are bigger and stronger. This is a clue to who might be a threat in the
future.
b) A neighbouring country may not say it is preparing for attack. But the fact that this country
is very powerful is a sign that at some point in the future it may choose to be aggressive.
Hence, Governments work hard to maintain a favourable balance of power with other
countries.

Q6) Why is there a need for a nation to worry about security issues? Give reasons. OR
Why does the traditional notion of security focus more on external threats rather than
internal ones?
1) In the traditional conception of security (external sense), the greatest danger to a country is
in the form of military threats. The source of this danger is another country which by
threatening military action endangers the core values of sovereignty, independence and
territorial integrity.
2) Within a country, the threat of violence is regulated by an acknowledged central authority-
the govt. But in the international system there is no central authority that stands above
everyone else and is capable of controlling behaviour.
3) As presently constituted, the UN has authority only to the extent that the membership
allows it to have authority and obeys it. So, in world politics, each country has to be
responsible for its own security.
Addl Qs “In world politics, there is no acknowledged central authority that stands above everyone
else” Comment? OR Can the United Nation be seen as an authority which can stand above everyone
else? OR “In world politics, each country has to be responsible for its own security.” Justify the
statement.
TRADITIONAL NOTION- INTERNAL
Q7) Give reasons why internal security has not been given much importance in the
concept of traditional security? OR Why was the issue of internal security not of much
concern to the superpowers and the Western world? What are the external threats
facing these countries?
Traditional security must also concern itself with internal security. The reason it has not been
given much importance is:

(1) INTERNAL SECURITY WAS MORE OR LESS ASSURED

a) While internal security was certainly a part of the concerns of governments historically,
after the Second World War, for the most powerful countries in Western Europe, USSR and
USA, internal security was more or less assured. It did not seem to matter as much as it had
in the past.
b) After 1945, the US and the Soviet Union appeared to be internally united and could expect
peace within their borders.
c) Most of the European countries, particularly the powerful Western European countries,
faced no serious threats from groups or communities living within those borders. Therefore,
these countries focused primarily on threats from outside their borders.
(2) THREATS FACED BY THE POWERFUL COUNTRIES OF WESTERN EUROPE, USSR
AND USA

a) In the period after the Second World ie, the Cold War period, US-led Western alliance
(NATO) faced the Soviet-led Communist alliance (Warsaw Pact). The two alliances feared a
military attack from each other.
b) Some European powers, in addition, continued to worry about violence in their colonies,
from colonised people who wanted independence. Eg. The French fighting in Vietnam in the
1950s or the British fighting in Kenya in the 1950s and the early 1960s.
(3) CONCLUSION

Internal security threats were not of much concern to the European countries and the
superpowers who basically faced external threats. However, countries of Asia and Africa
faced both internal and external threats.
Q8) What kind of threats have been faced by newly independent Afro-American
countries after WWII?
After the colonies became free from the late 1940s onwards, their security concerns were
often similar to that of the European powers.
1) Some of the newly- independent countries, like the European powers, became members of
the Cold War alliances. They, therefore, had to worry about the Cold War becoming a hot war
and dragging them into hostilities - against neighbours who might have joined the other side
in the Cold War, against the leaders of the alliances (the United States or Soviet Union), or
against any of the other partners of the US and Soviet Union.
Eg. The Cold War between the two superpowers was responsible for approximately one-third
of all wars in the post-Second World War period. Most of these wars were fought in the Third
World.
2) Colonial people feared, after independence, that they might be attacked by their former
colonial rulers in Europe. They had to prepare, therefore, to defend themselves against an
imperial war.
3) a) Many newly- independent countries faced the prospect of military conflict with
neighbouring countries. They came to fear their neighbours even more than they feared the
US or Soviet Union or the former colonial powers. They quarrelled over borders and
territories or control of people and populations or sharing of river water or all of these
simultaneously.
4) They also had to worry about internal military conflicts in the form of:

a) Separatist movements: Separatist movements which wanted to form independent

countries (eg Demand for Greater Nagaland). Sometimes, the external and internal threats
merged. A neighbour might help or instigate an internal separatist movement leading to
tensions between the two neighbouring countries (Eg. Khalistan Movement).
b) Rise of insurgency: Insurgent groups are very active in most of these countries. Eg. Bodo
or ULFA movements in North Eastern India
c) Civil war: Ethnic conflict between the Sinhala and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka led to a
civil war.
d) Naxalite movements: Inspired by the Maoist ideology, the Naxals have become a major
problem in India.
Conclusion: So, for the new states, external wars with neighbours and internal wars posed a
serious challenge to their security. These countries faced threats not only from outside their
borders, mostly from neighbours, but also from within.
Addl Q. How was security concerns of newly independent countries similar to the
western powers (Including the European powers) and different from western powers
(European powers)?
Similarity: Explain pt no. 1 with Eg.
Differences: Explain pts 2, 3, and 4
Q9. What are differences in the threats that people in the third world face and those
living in the first world face? OR How were security challenges facing Africa& Asia
different from Europe?

EUROPE/WESTERN POWERS/FIRST WORLD ASIA/AFRICA/THIRD WORLD

(External Threats) (External + internal threats)

1 Cold war- Threats emerging from alliance 1 Threats from alliance system along with
system European power became members of cold military threats from neighbouring countries
war alliances (NATO/WARSAW) & feared an (regional conflicts on account of borders and
attack from counter-alliance. territories, water sharing or control of people &
populations)
Also, there were threats from former colonial
power and so they had to defend against an
imperial war

2 Internal security was more or less assured. It 2 They faced internal security threats of a
was a historical problem but was settled. serious nature –
Communities and group were homogeneous (a) Separatism - e.g. Greater Nagaland
without much diversity, thus didn’t face many (b) Insurgency – e.g. Bodo ULFA (INDIA)
internal threats (except UK – Northern Ireland). (c) Civil wars – e.g. Sri- Lankan civil war
(d) Naxalite movement- e.g. current moaist
problem in India
This is because the Asian and Africa population
are more heterogeneous and diverse on account
of language,religion, ethnicity and regional
diversity
3 Conclusion – European countries mostly faced 3 Conclusion – Asian and African countries
external threats faced internal as well as external threats

Q10) How can traditional security be managed/secured/achieved? OR Describe the

importance of cooperation in the concept of traditional security. Or What is approach
for achieving security, according to the traditional notion ofsecurity?
I) CO-OPERATION RATHER THAN USE OF FORCE:
In traditional security, there is recognition that cooperation in limiting violence is possible.
These limits relate both to the ends and the means of war.
a) It is now an almost universally-accepted view that countries should only go to war for the
right reasons, primarily:
● Self-defence
● To protect other people from genocide
● Asserting their rights of self determination and self rule when all other dialogues,
means of negotiations and mediations have failed
b) War must also be limited in terms of the means that are used. Armies must avoid killing or
hurting non- combatants as well as unarmed and surrendering combatants. They should not
be excessively violent. Force must be used only after all the alternatives have failed.
II) OTHER FORMS OF COOPERATION
1) DISARMAMENT:

a) It refers to the elimination of stock piles of arms and reduction of the use of all kinds of
weapons- biological, chemical, nuclear; conventional- with an aim to promote peace and
security and divert the funds towards socio-economic development.
b) Disarmament requires all states to give up certain kinds of weapons. For example, the
1972 Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC) banned the production and possession of these weapons.
c) More than 155 states acceded to the BWC and 181 states acceded to the CWC. Both
conventions included all the great powers. But the superpowers — the US and Soviet Union
— did not want to give up the third type of weapons of mass destruction, namely, nuclear
weapons, so they pursued arms control.
2) ARMS CONTROL:

a) Arms control regulates the acquisition or development of weapons.

b) The Anti-ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty in 1972 tried to stop the United States and Soviet
Union from using ballistic missiles as a defensive shield to launch a nuclear attack. While it
did allow both countries to deploy a very limited number of defensive systems, it stopped
them from large-scale production of those systems.
c) The US and Soviet Union signed a number of other arms control treaties such as:
● Strategic Arms Limitations Treaty II (SALT II)
● Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START)
d) The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) of 1968 regulated the acquisition of nuclear
weapons: those countries that had tested and manufactured nuclear weapons before 1967
were allowed to keep their weapons; and those that had not done so were to give up the right
to acquire them. The NPT did not abolish nuclear weapons; rather, it limited the number of
countries that could have them.
3) CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES:

a) Confidence building is a process in which countries share ideas and information with their
rivals. They tell each other about their military intentions and their military plans as a way of
demonstrating that they are not planning a surprise attack.
b) They also tell each other about the kind of forces they possess, and they may share
information on where those forces are deployed.
c) In short, confidence building is a process designed to ensure that rivals do not go to war
through misunderstanding or misperception.
Conclusion: Traditional conceptions of security are principally concerned with the use, or
threat of use, of military force. In traditional security, force is both the principal threat to
security and the principal means of achieving security.
Addl Q. What is Confidence building? How does it function as a means for avoiding
violence?

Q11. Why hasn’t India signed the NPT?

I) INDIA VIEWS NPT AS DISCRIMINATORY
1. India perceives the Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty (NPT) of 1968 as being very
discriminatory. It regulated the acquisition of nuclear weapons.
2. Those countries that had tested & manufactured nuclear weapons before 1967 were
allowed to keep their weapons.
3. And those that had not done so were to give up the right to acquire them.
4. NPT didn’t abolish nuclear weapons; it limited the no. of countries that could have
them.
II) NPT DOES NOT STOP HORIZONTAL PROLIFERATION BUT PREVENTED
VERTICAL PROLIFERATION
 1. The NPT did not put a stop on horizontal proliferation which means that the P5
(Russia, US, UK, FRANCE, CHINA – Permanent UNSC member) continue the
testing and development of nuclear weapons.
2. NPT stopped vertical proliferation i.e. transfer of and nuclear weapons building could
not take place to other countries Eg. The world, particularly the P-5, was very critical
when India conducted Pokharan II, though France and China had also tested it. After
India, even Pakistan conducted its nuclear test.
Conclusion: India feels that all the countries should have the same rights & obligation with
respect to weapons of mass destruction. That’s why it hasn’t signed the NPT or CTBT.

Q12. “In traditional security, force is both the principal threat to security and the
principal means of achieving security.” comment.
Ans. The statement holds true. Overall, the traditional conceptions of security are principally
concerned with the use or threat of use of military force.
I. FORCE AS THREAT TO SECURITY
Force can be used in the form of aggression war or a military attack. Force is a principal
threat to security. Even in the alliance systems (NATO V/S WARSAW) during the cold war,
wading war involved use of force. It can take a large toll of human lives and lead to serve
destruction of property and infrastructure, ruin of the economy and disaster upon the people
of the region.
II. FORCE AS PRINCIPAL MEANS OF ACHIEVING SECURITY
1. In the event of a war or military attack, countries should act in defence and use force. No
country can let the aggressor encroach upon its territory.
2. Force should only be used for self defence or in case, if the 3 core values of sovereignty,
territorial integrity and independence of a nation are at threat or risk.
3. Thus, Force is used for safeguarding the 3 core values of a nation and for defending the
right of the civilian population.
III. FORCE AS LAST RESORT
1.It is a universally – accepted view that countries should only go to war for the right reasons,
primarily self-defence or to protect other people from genocide or for asserting their right to
self determination and self rule, when all other means of dialogue, negotiation or mediation
have failed .
2. War must also be limited in terms of the means that are used. Armies must avoid killing or
hurting non-combatants as well as unarmed and surrendering combatants .They should not be
excessively violent.
Hence, force must in any case be used only after all other alternatives have failed.
Thus, in traditional security, force is both the principal threat to security and the principal
means of achieving security.

NON-TRADITIONAL NOTION OF SECURITY

1) Non-traditional notions of security go beyond military threats to include a wide range of
threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human existence.
2) In the non-traditional conceptions, the referent is expanded. It is security not just for the
state but also individuals or communities or indeed all of humankind.
3) Non-traditional views of security have been called ‘human security’ or ‘global security’.
4) Non-traditional notions begins by questioning the traditional referent of security. In doing
so, they also question the other three elements of security — what is being secured, from
what kind of threats and the approach to security.
5) Referent means ‘Security for who?’ In the traditional security conception, the referent is
the state with its territory and governing institutions. In the non-traditional conceptions, the
referent is expanded to include individuals or communities or indeed all of humankind.
(For 1or 2 marks definition of Non-traditional notions of security – only give points 1-3)
Addl Q. What do you mean by the term ‘Referent’? How does it mean in the traditional
& the non-traditional conceptions of security? (state pt 5).
Q13) What is human security? OR Explain the narrow and broad concept of human
security.
i.Human Security means the protection of the people more than the protection of states. The
proponents of the narrow concept of human security argue that the primary aim of the state is
the protection of its individuals from violent threats or, as former UN Secretary-General Kofi
Annan puts it, “the protection of communities and individuals from internal violence”.
ii. According to them the broad concept of human security should include hunger, diseases
and natural disasters as they kill even more people than war. Thus, human security should
protect people from these threats as well as from violence and war.
iii. In broadest formulation, the human security agenda also encompasses economic security
and ‘threats to human dignity’ ie what has been called ‘freedom from want’ and freedom
from fear’, respectively.
Q14) What is meant by global security?
1) The idea of global security emerged in the 1990s in response to the global nature of threats
such as global warming, international terrorism, and health epidemics like AIDS and bird flu
etc.
2) No country can resolve these problems alone. And, in some situations, one country may
have to disproportionately bear the brunt of a global problem such as environmental
degradation. For example, due to global warming, a sea level rise of 1.5–2.0 meters would
flood 20 percent of Bangladesh, inundate most of the Maldives, and threaten nearly half the
population of Thailand.
3) Since these problems are global in nature, international cooperation is vital. All govts
should transcend national boundaries and should come on a common platform to invite
solutions from the global community.
Addl Q. “Rapid environmental degradation is causing a serious threat to the security”
Do you agree with the statement? Give an example.
Yes, issues such as global warming are a major threat to security and human survival. For
example, due to global warming, a sea level rise of 1.5–2.0 meters would flood 20 percent of
Bangladesh, inundate most of the Maldives, and threaten nearly half the population of
Thailand.
Since these problems are global in nature, international cooperation is vital to solve them.

Addl Q. Give examples of threats to Global Security. (give egs from pt 1).

Q15) Explain the non-traditional notion of security? OR Explain the Human and global
concept of security. OR “Non-traditional notions of security go beyond military threats
to include a wide range of threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human
existence.” Comment.

Introduction:
1) Non-traditional notions of security go beyond military threats to include a wide range of
threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human existence.
2) In the non-traditional conceptions, the referent is expanded. It is security not just for the
state but also individuals or communities or indeed all of humankind.
3) Non-traditional views of security have been called ‘human security’ or ‘global security’.
I) Human Security. (Explain)
II) Global Security (Explain)
Q16) Discuss the new threats to human and global security. OR Explain any two
contemporary threats to human survival.
The non-traditional conceptions- both human security and global security-focus on the
changing nature of threats to security. Some of these threats are:
(1) TERRORISM
a) Terrorism refers to political violence that targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately.
Civilian targets are usually chosen to terrorise the public and to use the unhappiness of the
public as a weapon against national governments or other parties in conflict.
b) International terrorism involves the citizens or territory of more than one country.
c) Terrorist groups seek to change a political context or condition that they not like by force
or threat of force.
d) eg. Hijacking planes or planting bombs in trains, cafes, markets and other crowded places.
e) Since 11 September 2001 when terrorists attacked the World Trade Centre in America,
other governments and public have paid more attention to terrorism,
e) Most of the terror attacks have occurred in the Middle East, Europe, Latin America and
South Asia.
(2) HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION
a) Human rights have come to be classified into three types:
i) Political rights such as freedom of speech and assembly
ii) Economic and social rights
iii) Rights of colonised people or ethnic and indigenous minorities such as right to
freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, etc.
b) There is no agreement on which set of rights should be considered as universal human
rights, nor what the international community should do when rights are being violated.
c) There have been debates on whether or not the UN should intervene to stop human rights
abuses. There are those who argue that the UN Charter empowers the international
community to take up arms in defence of human rights. Others argue that the national
interests of the powerful states will determine which instances of human rights violations the
UN will act upon.
d) Examples- Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait; Genocide in Rwanda; Indonesian military’s killing
of people in East Timor, etc.
(Examples of Human Rights violation in India: Practice of Untouchability, Child Labor,
Domestic violence and Discrimination against the lower caste.)

(3) GLOBAL POVERTY

a) World population—now at 650 crore— will reach 700 to 800 crore within 25 years and
may eventually level out at 900 to 1000 crore.
b) Currently, half the world’s population growth occurs in just six countries- India, China,
Pakistan, Nigeria, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
c) Among the world’s poorest countries, population is expected to triple in the next 50 years,
whereas many rich countries will see population shrinkage in that period.
d) High per capita income and low population growth makes rich states richer, whereas low
incomes and high population growth make poor states poorer.
e) Globally, this disparity contributes to the gap between the Northern and Southern countries
of the world. Within the South, disparities have also sharpened, as a few countries have
managed to slow down population growth and raise incomes while others have failed to do
so.
f) For example, Most of the world’s armed conflicts now take place in sub-Saharan Africa,
which is the poorest region of the world.
g) Poverty in the South has also led to large-scale migration to seek a better life and
employment opportunities in the North. This has created international political frictions.
● Migrants: those who voluntarily leave their home countries in search of better
economic opportunities. States are not bound to accept migrants.
● Refugees: those who flee from war, natural disaster or political persecution. States are
generally supposed to accept refugees.
● Internally displaced people: Those who remain within national borders. Eg.
Kashmiri Pandits that fled the violence in the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s.

Relation between armed conflict and refugee migration:

h) The world refugee map tallies almost perfectly with the world conflict map because
wars and armed conflicts have generated millions of refugees.
i) From 1990 to 1995, 70 states were involved in 93 wars which killed about 55 lakh
people. As a result, individuals, and families and, at times, whole communities have
been forced to migrate because of generalised fear of violence or due to the
destruction of livelihoods, identities and living environments.
j) A look at the correlation between wars and refugee migration shows that in the 1990s,
all but three of the 60 refugee flows coincided with an internal armed conflict. Eg.
Sub-Saharan Africa.
(4) HEALTH EPIDEMICS
a) Health epidemics such as HIV-AIDS, bird flu, and severe acute respiratory syndrome
(SARS) have rapidly spread across countries through:
(causes): Migration, Business, Tourism, Military operations
b) One country’s success or failure in limiting the spread of these diseases affects infections
in other countries.
Epidemics among Humans:
c) By 2003, an estimated 4 crore people were infected with HIV- AIDS worldwide,
two-thirds of them in Africa and half of the rest in South Asia.
d) In North America and other industrialised countries, new drug therapies dramatically
lowered the death rate from HIV- AIDS in the late 1990s. But these treatments were too
expensive to help poor regions like Africa where it has proved to be a major factor in driving
the region backward into deeper poverty.
e) Other new and poorly understood diseases such as: Ebola virus, Hantavirus,Hepatitis C
have emerged,
f) While old diseases like Tuberculosis, Malaria, Dengue fever, Cholera have mutated into
drug resistant forms that are difficult to treat.
f) Epidemics among animals have major economic effects. Since the late 1990s, Britain has
lost billions of dollars of income during an outbreak of the mad-cow disease, and bird flu shut
down supplies of poultry exports from several Asian countries.
g) Such epidemics demonstrate the growing interdependence of states making their borders
less meaningful than in the past and emphasise the need for international cooperation. To
qualify as a non-traditional security problem, an issue must threaten the very existence of the
referent, ie, human beings’ non-traditional conceptions of security vary according to local
contexts.
Q17) Differntiate between:
a) Migrants and Refugees

Migrants Refugees

Those who voluntarily leave their home Those who flee from war, natural disaster or
countries in search of better economic political persecution.
opportunities.

States are not bound to accept migrants. States are generally supposed to accept
refugees.

b) Refugees and Internally displaced people.

Refugees Internally displaced people

Refugees flee their country of origin due to People who have fled their homes but remain
war, natural disaster or political persecution. within national borders.

Eg. Tibetians in India Eg. Kashmiri Pandits that fled the violence in
the Kashmir Valley in the early 1990s.

Q18) “Non-traditional conceptions of security, like traditional conceptions of security,

vary according to local contexts.” Comment. OR What are the features to categorise
issues to be a security threat/concern? OR Can we include any kind of disease or
distress in the ambit of Security?
1) Expansion of the concept of security does not mean that we can include any kind of
disease or distress in the ambit of security.
2) To qualify as a security problem, an issue must threaten the very existence of the referent
(a state or group of people) though the precise nature of this threat may be different.
3) For example: (place... and security threat)
a) The Maldives may feel threatened by global warming because a big part of its territory
may be submerged with the rising sea level
b) For countries in Southern Africa, HIV-AIDS poses a serious threat as one in six adults has
the disease (one in three for Botswana, the worst case)
c) In 1994, the Tutsi tribe in Rwanda faced a threat to its existence as nearly five lakh of its
people were killed by the rival Hutu tribe in a matter of weeks.
This shows that non-traditional conceptions of security, like traditional conceptions of
security, vary according to local contexts.
Q19) Cooperative security may involve use of force as a last resort. Explain. OR How
can non-traditional security be achieved/managed/secured? OR What do you mean by
cooperative security?
Cooperative security is required to deal with many non-traditional threats to security:
1) COOPERATION RATHER THAN MILITARY CONFRONTATION:

a) Military force may have a role to play in combating terrorism or in enforcing human rights.
But it is difficult to see what force would do to help alleviate poverty, manage migration and
refugee movements, and control epidemics.
b) Indeed, in most cases, the use of military force would only make matters worse as it would
lead to loss of life, ruined economies, destruction of infrastructure, re-allocation of resources,
hunger, disease, economic crisis, etc.
2) DEVISE STRATEGIES THAT INVOLVE INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION:
Far more effective is to devise strategies that involve international cooperation. Cooperation
may be bilateral (i.e. between any two countries), regional, continental, or global. It would all
depend on the nature of the threat and the willingness and ability of countries to respond.

3) ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATION, NGO’S AND GREAT

PERSONALITIES IN FOSTERING COOPERATIVE SECURITY:

a) Cooperative security may also involve both national and international organisations (UN,
WHO, WTO, IMF, World Bank, etc).
b) Non Governmental Organisations such as:

● Amnesty International, the Red Cross

● Private foundations and charities
● Churches and religious organisations
● Trade unions
● Associations
● Social and development organisations
● Businesses and corporations
c) Great Personalities (e.g. Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela)
4) COOPERATION AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY:

a) Cooperative security may involve the use of force as a last resort.

b) The international community may have to sanction the use of force to deal with
governments that-
● Kill their own people
● Ignore their misery
● Who are devastated by poverty, disease and catastrophe
c) It may have to agree to the use of violence against international terrorists and those who
harbour them.
d) Non-traditional security is much better when the use of force is sanctioned and applied
collectively by the international community rather than when an individual country decides to
use force on its own.
Addl Q. Nuclear weapons as deterrence or defense have limited usage against
contemporary security threats to states. Explain the statement.
The contemporary security threats to a state may be in the form of terrorism, violation of
human rights, global poverty, large scale migration to seek a better life, health epidemics, etc.
Nuclear weapons as deterrence or defence have limited usage against these threats because
these threats require cooperation rather than military confrontation.
How can we resolve contemporary security threats – Nuclear weapons not the answer.
Explain the following points
● Cooperation rather than military confrontation
● Devise strategies that involve international co-operation
● Role of international and regional organization, NGO’s and great personalities in
fostering cooperative security
● Cooperation and collective security
However, it depends on the nature of the threat and the willingness and ability of the
countries to respond to them.

Q20) Explain India’s security strategy.

India has faced traditional (military) and non-traditional threats to its security that have
emerged from within as well as outside its borders. Its security strategy has four broad
components, which have been used in a varying combination from time to time.
(1) STRENGTHENING MILITARY CAPABILITIES
a) India has been involved in conflicts with its neighbours —
● Pakistan in 1947–48, 1965, 1971 and 1999 (Kargil)
● China in 1962
b) Since it is surrounded by nuclear-armed countries in the South Asian region, India’s
decision to conduct nuclear tests in 1998 was justified by the Indian government in terms of
safeguarding national security.
c) India first tested a nuclear device in 1974. This was important for deterrence purposes.
d) India declares the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and no first use of nuclear
weapons.
(2) STRENGTHENING INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND NORMS
a) The second component of India’s security strategy has been to strengthen international
norms and international institutions to protect its security interests.
b) India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, supported:
● The cause of Asian solidarity
● Decolonisation
● Disarmament
● The UN as a forum in which international conflicts could be settled
c) India also took initiatives to bring about a universal and non-discriminatory
non-proliferation regime in which all countries would have the same rights and obligations
with respect to weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, chemical). This is why India
did not sign NPT and CTBT.
d) It argued for an equitable New International Economic Order (NIEO).
e) It used non-alignment (NAM) to help carve out an area of peace outside the bloc politics of
the two superpowers.
f) India joined 160 countries that have signed and ratified the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which
provides a roadmap for reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases to check global warming.
g) Indian troops have been sent abroad on UN peacekeeping missions in support of
cooperative security initiatives. India is the third largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping
missions. Eg. Troops have participated in missions in Rwanda, Yemen, Somalia, etc.
(3) MEETING INTERNAL SECURITY CHALLENGES THROUGH A
DEMOCRATIC POLITICAL SYSTEM
a) Several militant groups from areas such as the Nagaland, Mizoram, the Punjab, and
Kashmir have, from time to time, sought to break away from India.
b) There have been internal problems such as:
 ● Separatism: eg. Demand for greater Nagaland, Khalistan, etc.
● Insurgency: eg. Bodo and ULFA movement in North East
● Militancy: eg. In Kashmir and Punjab
● Naxalite Movements: eg. In Jharkhand
c) India has tried to preserve national unity by adopting a democratic political system, which
allows different communities and groups of people to freely articulate their grievances and
share political power.
(4) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
a) India has tried to develop its economy to reduce poverty, misery and economic
inequalities. But, the attempt has not quite succeeded; we are still a very poor and unequal
country.
b) Democratic politics allows spaces for articulating the voice of the poor and the deprived
citizens.
c) There is a pressure on the democratically elected governments to combine economic
growth with human development.
d) Thus democracy is not just a political ideal; a democratic government is also a way to
provide greater security.

Q21. Suggest the type of security India should prefer to fight the threats like poverty
and terrorism.
Ans. Non- Traditional Threats.
India has faced both traditional and non-traditional threats to its security.
(i) To overcome poverty, India needs to develop its economy in a way that the vast mass of
citizens are lifted out of poverty and misery and huge economic inequalities are not allowed
to exist. The democratically elected governments must try to combine economic growth with
human development. Harmful impact of globalization should be countered by the positive
role of the state. The government must ensure social safety nets and social security benefits to
the poor.
(ii) Several militant groups from areas such as the Nagaland, Mizoram, the Punjab, and
Kashmir among others have, from time to time, sought to break away from India. India has
tried to preserve national unity by adopting a democratic political system, which allows
different communities and groups of people to freely articulate their grievances and share
political power.
(iii) To counter terrorism we have to form a firm military strategy, intelligence including
cyber intelligence. Yet at the same time our democracy should have space for dialogue and
negotiation to deal with groups like Maoists, insurgents etc.

Incase strategy for prevention of epidemic is asked then you could give the following
answer-
(iv) To prevent epidemics proper living conditions, sanitation, clean drinking water,
enforcement of Swachh Bharat, proper immunization, stress on toilets in every home and
spreading awareness and mass education of must be taken up. We need to improve our public
health system and work with all stake holders. Mass media and famous/ bollywood
personalities can help to create awareness. The democratically elected governments must try
to combine economic growth with human development. India wants to develop its Human
Development Index on all three parameters: health, literacy and PPP (purchase power parity).
It can contribute in solving many non-traditional security problems such as inequality,
disease, etc.

Q22) What is disarmament? Why is it a need for the world today?

Disarmament:
Destruction, elimination, reduction and control over the manufacturing of all kinds of
weapons ie. Nuclear, biological, conventional and chemical as well as reducing the defence
budgets with an aim to end arms race and establish world peace is called disarmament.
Disarmament – a need for the world today:
1. Disarmament is a need for the world today because arms race threatens one of
the basic human rights – the right to life.
There is fear of an accidental war, as countries remain in constant preparation of war
and there is danger of nuclear devices exploding due to mechanical or human error.
This can result in end of human civilization.

2. Disarmament is a need for the world today because arms race poses a major
threat to world peace.
Regional instabilities, the emergence of ethnic and religious tensions and the
continuing risk of the increasing numbers of mass destruction and conventional
weapons, have created a serious challenge to international peace and security.

3. The arms race is opposed to the objectives of the United Nations.

4. Adverse effects of a nuclear war – hence disarmament is a need.
a. The world will be flooded with highly toxic sewage that will contaminate the
soil and the rivers. Drinking water will become unfit for human consumption.
b. The atmosphere would be highly contaminated.
c. Ultraviolet radiations would have horrifying effects on human beings, causing
cancer, skin burns and changes in the immune system. All kinds of epidemics
would spread.
d. Intensive heat radiation would cause all combustible substances to catch fire.
e. Temperature will drop by as much as 20 degree Celsius or even lower
resulting in Nuclear Winter. Water would freeze and all vegetation would
perish.
5. For social and economic development of the developing countries.
Large sums of money, precious time and expertise of scientists is wasted in
developing weapons. This adversely affects the social and economic development of
the developing countries. The developing countries are compelled to divert scarce
resources meant for social and economic development towards defence, and thus
remain backward. If disarmament takes place, the funds can be utilized towards
opening schools, hospitals, combating diseases, immunization programmes, securing
low priced housing etc.
6. Fear of Nuclear accidents & disasters: Chernobyl & Fukushima Daiichi
(Give any three points – points 1, 4, 5 & 6 are important)

Q23) What are the causes of international terrorism?

● Rise of religious fundamentalism

● Advances in technology enhance their mobility and their ability to communicate
internally and externally
● Poverty & inequalities give rise to terrorism, disillusioned & unemployed youth
are a soft target.
● Cultural conflicts & border disputes examples may be given
● For political bargaining – IC 814

Q24) Read the cartoon below and write a short note in favor of or against the
connection between war and terrorism depicted in the cartoon. (Page 116)

● There is definitely a close connection between war & terrorism

 ● Political bargaining, shattered economy, disillusioned youth, grievances of the local
population, presence of troops & forces – result in formation of terrorist & militant
groups (Give example of Afghanistan)

Q25) Differentiate between Traditional and Non-Traditional concept of security.

 Traditional concept of security Non-Traditional concept of security

1 In the traditional security conception the 1 In the non-traditional conception, the referent is
referent is the state with its territory and expanded. Security is for “Not just the state but
governing institution (Referent means security for also individuals or group’s communities or indeed
whom?) all of human kind.”

2 The source of threat is another country which 2 It includes a wide range of threats and
by threatening military action endangers the dangers affecting the conditions of human
three core values of sovereignty independence existence.
and territorial integrity. Military action also ‘narrow’ concept of human security focus on
endangers the lives of ordinary citizens. the protection from internal violence.
.
‘broad’ concept- protection against hunger,
disease and natural disasters as well as from
violence.
In broadest formulation it encompasses
economic security and ‘threats to human
dignity’ ie what has been called ‘freedom
from want’ and freedom from fear’,
respectively.

3. Non-traditional views of security have

3 Traditional Security implies National
been called ‘human security’ or ‘global
Security covering both internal and external
security’.
threats. E.g.
E.g.
a) External threats like war military attacks i.e.
a)Human security threats like Disease, natural
threats from outside the country
disaster and hunger
b) Global security threats like Global warming ,
b) Internal threats
international terrorism health epidemics
Threats from within the country like Naxalite
c) New emerging threats are global poverty,
movement, separatism, insurgency and civil wars.
migration, refugee problem, human rights
violation.
Thus, Traditional security also concerns with
internal security. It may be threatened by civil
war and internal separatist movement

4 In traditional security, force is both the 4 Cooperative security is required to deal

principal threat to security and the principal with many non-traditional threats to security.
means of achieving security.This can be
achieve by- Use of force cannot alleviate poverty, manage
migration and refugee movements, and
● Disarmament control epidemics.
● Arms control
● CBM’s
● Cooperation rather than coercion – use
of force only as last resort

Some board Pointers

Q. Explain global poverty and health epidemics as the new sources of threats to security.
Global poverty and health epidemics as the new sources of threat to security:
● Global poverty is a new source of threat to security. Population is expected to triple in
the next 50 years.
● Whereas many rich countries will see population decline in that period. High per
capita income and low population growth make rich state get richer and low income and
high population growth reinforce each other to make poor states get poorer.
∙ Health epidemics such as HIV-AIDS, bird flu, SARS have rapidly spread across countries
through migration, business, tourism and military operation.
● Late 1990s, Britain had lost billions of dollars of income during an outbreak of the
mad-cow disease.

Q. Explain any two components of India’s security strategy.

Components of India’s security strategy:
(i) Strengthening its military capabilities.
(ii) Strengthening international norms.
(iii) Gearing up towards meeting security challenges within the country.
(iv) Developing its economy in a way that the citizens of India are lifted out of poverty,
misery & huge economic inequalities.
(Explain any two points)

Q. Explain the internal and external non-traditional notions of security.

Internal and external non-traditional notions of security:
∙ Non traditional notions of security go beyond military threats to include a wide range of
threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human existence.
∙ Non-traditional views of security have been called human security or global security.

∙ Human security means protection of people more than protection of states.

∙ Human security and state security are the same thing.

∙ Global security includes global warming, international terrorism and health epidemics.
(i) Terrorism refers to political violence that targets civilians deliberately and
indiscriminately. International terrorism involves citizens or territory of more
than one country.
(ii) Human rights of three types – political, economics and social rights and the rights of
colonised people or ethnic and indigenous minorities.
(iii) Global poverty due to high per capita income and low population growth which makes
rich states more richer, whereas low incomes & high population growth reinforce each other
to make poor states more poorer.
(iv) Migration to seek better life, better economic oppertunities leads to international political
friction.
(v) Health epidemics spreading through migration, business, tourism and military operations.

Q. Differentiate between the traditional and the non-traditional notions of security.

Traditional Notions of Security

In the traditional conception of security the greatest danger to a country is from military
threats from outside. This may endanger to the core values of sovereignty independence and
territorial integrity. Military action also endangers the lives of ordinary citizens.
Traditional security also concerns with internal security. It may be threatened by civil war and
internal separatist movement.
Non traditional notions of Security
It includes a wide range of threats and dangers affecting the conditions of human existence.
Main proponents of non-traditional are not just the state but also individuals or communities
or indeed all of human kind. Therefore it has been called “human security” or “global
security”.
In non-traditional notion threats may be such as terrorism human rights, global poverty and
migration etc.

Q. Distinguish between the internal and external notion of traditional security.

Internal notion of traditional security:-

(i) Internal military conflicts.
(ii) Separatist movements.
(iii) Internal wars.

External notion of traditional security:-

(i) Danger to a country from military threats.
(ii) Deterrence, defence and balance of power.
(iii) Alliance building as components of traditional security
( Any two points from each to be explained).

Q. The differences in the threats that people in the Third World faced and those living
in the First World.
(i) The Third world countries face the threats not only from outside their borders, but also
from within. On the other hand, most of the First World countries face threats only from
outside their borders.
(ii) Third World faces threats from separatist movements. There is no such threat in the First
World Countries.
(iii) For the newly independent Third World Countries, external and internal wars posed a
serious challenge to their security than the First world countries faced.

Some more Board Qs.

Q. How are the threats faced by the people in the Third World different from those
faced by the people living in the First World? Support your answer with examples.

Q. Suggest the type of security India should prefer to fight the threats like poverty,
terrorism and epidemics.

Q. Explain the concept of ‘Human Security.’

Q. What is meant by Security? Mention any four components of Indian security

strategy.