Chapter 5: Security in the Contemporary WorldClass 12 Political Science — summary, notes, extra questions & MCQ quiz

Summary

Security, at its most basic, means freedom from threats to 'core values', and only the most dangerous threats count. The chapter contrasts two views. Traditional (national) security is concerned with military threats to a country's sovereignty and territory from other states; governments respond through deterrence (preventing war), defence (limiting or ending it), balance of power, and alliance building. Traditional security also covers internal security and allows cooperation through disarmament (such as the Biological and Chemical Weapons Conventions), arms control (ABM, SALT, START, NPT) and confidence building. Non-traditional security broadens the focus from the state to the individual and to all humankind, giving rise to ideas of 'human security' and 'global security'. New sources of threat include terrorism, human-rights violations, global poverty, migration and refugees, and health epidemics like HIV-AIDS. These threats often require cooperation rather than military force. India's security strategy has four components: strengthening military capabilities, building international norms and institutions, addressing internal security challenges, and developing the economy to lift people out of poverty so that democracy itself provides greater security.

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