Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which of the following represents the definition of security that includes freedom from worry and confidence in one's safety?
Which of the following represents the definition of security that includes freedom from worry and confidence in one's safety?
- Maintaining the balance of power in international relations.
- A perpetual increase in defense spending.
- The absence of external military threats.
- The state or condition of being or feeling secure. (correct)
In the context of international security, what does managing security challenges primarily involve?
In the context of international security, what does managing security challenges primarily involve?
- Efforts to mitigate or manage existing security challenges. (correct)
- Creating new security threats to maintain strategic advantage.
- Ignoring security challenges to foster a sense of complacency.
- Resolving all existing security challenges completely.
What is the primary focus of global security as a subfield of International Relations (IR)?
What is the primary focus of global security as a subfield of International Relations (IR)?
- Environmental conservation and sustainable development initiatives.
- The threat or use of violence, wars, and armed conflicts. (correct)
- Economic development and trade relations between countries.
- Cultural exchange and promotion of international understanding.
What has been a shift in emphasis within the field of global security?
What has been a shift in emphasis within the field of global security?
What aspect of security policy would be considered the most concrete?
What aspect of security policy would be considered the most concrete?
Which event significantly impacted the US and European security budgets, leading to substantial increases?
Which event significantly impacted the US and European security budgets, leading to substantial increases?
Which of the following is a method for managing or mitigating security challenges?
Which of the following is a method for managing or mitigating security challenges?
What can result from legitimate security concerns if not properly managed?
What can result from legitimate security concerns if not properly managed?
During the Cold War paradigm, what constituted one of the '4 S's' of security?
During the Cold War paradigm, what constituted one of the '4 S's' of security?
According to Barry Buzan, what aspect relates to human collective rather than solely focusing on military force?
According to Barry Buzan, what aspect relates to human collective rather than solely focusing on military force?
Which of the following elements did Barry Buzan include as a main element of security?
Which of the following elements did Barry Buzan include as a main element of security?
What societal elements did Barry Buzan consider an element of security?
What societal elements did Barry Buzan consider an element of security?
After 2022, what is security possibly tied between?
After 2022, what is security possibly tied between?
Which entities' security interests are more impactful on world politics?
Which entities' security interests are more impactful on world politics?
According to the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel report “A more Secure World”, which of the following was prioritized?
According to the UN Secretary General's High-Level Panel report “A more Secure World”, which of the following was prioritized?
Which conflict is listed as one of the 'Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2025'?
Which conflict is listed as one of the 'Ten Conflicts to Watch in 2025'?
Which of the following conflicts is identified as being of greatest concern?
Which of the following conflicts is identified as being of greatest concern?
What is a limitation of the Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey (PPS)?
What is a limitation of the Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey (PPS)?
What kind of events is the Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey (PPS) primarily focused on assessing?
What kind of events is the Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey (PPS) primarily focused on assessing?
Among whom is the Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey conducted?
Among whom is the Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey conducted?
Flashcards
Definition of Security
Definition of Security
The state of being secure from threat, worry, or anxiety; confidence in safety and well-being.
International Security Career Focus
International Security Career Focus
Managing or mitigating security challenges, ideally, without exacerbating them; not about resolving conflicts but containing them.
Global Security
Global Security
A subfield of International Relations (IR) focused on the threat or use of violence, particularly wars and armed conflicts.
Concrete Security Measures
Concrete Security Measures
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Managing Security Challenges
Managing Security Challenges
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Risk of Security Measures
Risk of Security Measures
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Ways to think about security
Ways to think about security
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Barry Buzan's View on Security
Barry Buzan's View on Security
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Buzan’s Five Main Elements of Security
Buzan’s Five Main Elements of Security
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Whose Security Matters More?
Whose Security Matters More?
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UN Security Priorities
UN Security Priorities
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Biggest Security Challenges in 2025
Biggest Security Challenges in 2025
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Study Notes
Conflicts to Watch in 2025
- Syria
- Sudan
- Ukraine and European Security
- Israel-Palestine
- Iran vs. US and Israel
- Haiti
- US-Mexico
- Myanmar
- Korean Peninsula
- China-US
Definition of Security
- Security is the state or condition of being or feeling secure.
- It includes freedom from care, anxiety, or apprehension and confidence in one's safety or well-being.
International Security Challenges
- International security involves managing or mitigating security challenges.
- Global security, a subfield of IR, focuses on the threat or use of violence, wars, and armed conflicts.
- There is an increasing emphasis on non-state actors and "human security".
- Key considerations: identifying security issues, evaluating them, and managing crises.
Concrete Aspects of Security
- Security is related to money and defense budgets.
- Key policy questions include whether allocation is correct, if more/less money should be spent, if money can be spent more efficiently, and long-term considerations.
- Events like 9/11, the 2014 annexation of Ukraine, and the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine increased budgets.
Managing Security Challenges
- International Organizations (IOs)
- Regional organizations
- Alliances/coalitions
- Military
- Non-military (diplomacy, aid, etc.)
- Intelligence/security services/border guards/interior ministry/police/cyber
- Ignoring one or more of the above
- Who decides?
- Is change possible?
Preventing Negative Consequences of Security Measures
- Security concerns can lead to bureaucracies, the military-industrial complex, government abuses, and military coups.
- Managing security threats requires careful oversight.
Ways to Think About Security
- Cold War paradigm → the 4 's:
- States: Most important agents of security in international politics.
- Strategy: Core intellectual concerns involve devising the best ways to use the threat and use of military force.
- Science: Analysts use scientific methods to create knowledge for basing policies on.
- Status quo: preventing radical or revolutionary change and also global catastrophe.
1983: Shift in Security Studies
- Barry Buzan's "People, States and Fear" was published.
- States security relates to human collective.
- Security relates to human collective and shouldn't be confined to military force only.
- Buzan's 5 elements of security:
- Military: Traditional strategic studies.
- Political: Organizational stability of states and their legitimacy.
- Economic: Access to resources, finance, and markets for welfare and state power.
- Societal: Sustainability of language, culture, national identity, and custom.
- Environmental: Maintenance of the local biosphere as an essential support system.
Security Priorities
- Gender issues became more prominent after 1991. Military focus declined but was revived after 2001. Security issues are tied between nuclear war and climate change following 2022.
- Ideally, everybody's security matters, this is not realistic.
- International organizations and states have bigger security interests than individuals.
- Big states overrule little states
- Wealthy states over poor states
- Military power states overrule military weak states.
Prioritizing Security
- The 2004 UN Secretary General's report "A more Secure World" prioritized:
- Economic and societal threats (poverty)
- Infectious disease and environmental degradation
- Interstate conflict
- Internal conflict (civil war and genocide)
- WMD use
- Terrorism
Biggest Security Challenges in 2025
- The Council on Foreign Relations Preventive Priorities Survey polls foreign policy experts to assess ongoing or potential violent conflicts.
- The current year may be dangerous with wars in Gaza and Ukraine, confrontations in the West Bank and at the US-Mexico Border, and hostilities between Iran and Israel.
- The PPS primarily assesses discrete political and military contingencies and doesn't evaluate risks like global warming, demographic change, or technological developments. It is conducted by American FP academics.
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