Security Studies Overview
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Questions and Answers

Which of the following accurately represents an aspect of the discursive conception of security?

  • All harmful activities are considered security threats.
  • Security threats are always defined by their potential to cause military conflict.
  • Only external military threats require national attention.
  • Some activities like smoking may harm referent objects but are not classified as security threats. (correct)

What is NOT one of the three analytic tools used by security analysts?

  • Weapons technology analysis (correct)
  • Security sectors
  • Referent object of security
  • Conception of security

Which sector is classified as part of the broader framework of security sectors?

  • Transportation sector
  • Cultural sector
  • Agricultural sector
  • Environmental sector (correct)

What defines military security in a state?

<p>Addressing both internal and external military threats. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do states typically respond to military threats?

<p>By allocating resources to their military forces. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily distinguishes the geopolitical study?

<p>It examines the impact of geography on state foreign policy. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following examples represents an internal military threat?

<p>Terrorist organizations within the state. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of a state’s naval, air, and land forces?

<p>To secure victories in land power missions. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary objective of an attrition strategy in military terms?

<p>To undermine the enemy's physical capacity to fight (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the coercion strategy aim to influence an adversary?

<p>Through a show of force or limited use of force to change their policy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which military strategy emphasizes knocking an adversary off-balance psychologically?

<p>Dislocation strategy (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key focus of political security?

<p>Non-military threats to sovereignty (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of economic security, what does mercantilism advocate?

<p>Increasing state wealth through trade and access to resources (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the focus of societal security?

<p>Safeguarding the identity and cohesion of societies (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which key concept emphasizes the importance of maritime trade routes for a nation's power?

<p>Naval superiority (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of water is characterized by operations farthest from land?

<p>Blue water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which route is NOT considered a key naval route according to naval strategies?

<p>Mississippi River (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a primary difference between strategic and tactical nuclear weapons?

<p>Strategic are aimed at military centers; tactical meet immediate battlefield targets. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following components is NOT part of the Nuclear Triad?

<p>Tactical drones (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does air power have over naval and land forces?

<p>Capability to bypass enemy forces (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which strait is essential for naval access to the Indian Ocean?

<p>Strait of Malacca (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of naval water is specifically associated with operations in rivers and bays?

<p>Brown water (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Nuclear-capable submarines are noted as which of the following?

<p>Most survivable type of nuclear delivery vehicle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect does Alfred Thayer Mahan strongly associate with naval power?

<p>Maritime commerce domination (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the subjective conception of security primarily emphasize?

<p>The absence of fear regarding potential threats (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the securitization process?

<p>Convincing a relevant audience (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of extraordinary measures that can be taken if securitization is successful?

<p>Conducting wiretapping on individuals (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of security as defined in the content?

<p>Protecting the survival of someone or something (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the discursive conception of security, which of the following statements is true?

<p>Perceptions of threats can be independent of actual capabilities. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT considered a referent object of security?

<p>Economic growth (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which element is NOT part of the securitization process?

<p>Constructive dialogue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a successful securitization?

<p>Widespread acceptance of the securitizing actor's claims (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the objective approach to security?

<p>Exploring security issues as existing independently to be discovered (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT mentioned as a main component of security issues?

<p>Public opinion on security measures (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which organization is associated with the study and documentation of military expenditure?

<p>Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statistics reflects a significant health-related security threat in the US?

<p>Deaths due to smoking causing 480,000 annually (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What implication arises from the successful construction of security issues?

<p>Normalization of extensive government surveillance (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which approach highlights that security issues are framed and constructed rather than discovered?

<p>Discursive approach to security (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What question does the conception of security help to answer?

<p>How do we know if something is a security threat? (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which of the following scenarios does the perception of a threat not necessitate its physical existence?

<p>Securitization of public safety issues (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statistic related to deaths shows a pressing concern from secondhand smoke exposure?

<p>40,000 deaths among non-smoking adults each year (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of security issues, what does 'urgency' refer to?

<p>The immediacy required in responding to a threat (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Security Definition

Protecting the survival of someone or something (referent object). The higher the risk, the greater the threat.

Referent Object of Security

The "who" or "what" whose security is being considered (e.g., individual, society, state, environment).

Security Threat

Existential threat against a referent object, requiring urgent action and extraordinary measures.

Conception of Security

How we determine if something is a security threat (the criteria).

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Objective Security

Security threats exist independently and are detectable; security is achieved when concrete threats are absent.

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Subjective Security

Security threats are perceived or interpreted by individuals; security is achieved through a lack of fear or concern.

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Discursive Security

Security threats and solutions are shaped by language, discourse, and social interactions.

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Security Sectors

Different areas related to security (e.g., military, economic, environmental).

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Security Analyst Tools

Concepts of security, referent objects, and security sectors.

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Discursive Conception of Security

A way of thinking about security where not all harmful things are considered threats. It focuses on how we talk about and define security threats.

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Three Questions of Security Studies

Security analysts use three key questions to understand threats: 1) What is considered a security threat? 2) Who or what is being protected? 3) Which area of security is involved?

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What is a Referent Object of Security?

The 'who' or 'what' that needs to be protected from threats, like individuals, states, or the environment.

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What are Security Sectors?

Different areas of security like military, environmental, political, economic, societal, and cybersecurity.

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Military Security: Internal Threats

Threats to a state that come from within its borders, such as separatist movements, terrorist groups, or drug cartels.

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Military Security: External Threats

Threats to a state that come from outside its borders, such as occupation by another state or loss of territory.

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Geopolitics

The way geography, economics, and population influence a state's foreign policy and political decisions.

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Military Security: Tools of Power

A state uses land, naval, air, and nuclear forces to achieve military security. Other military tools, like air or space power, are often effective when they support land operations.

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Fear and Security

In the subjective conception of security, the lack of fear is what defines security. We only care about threats that we are afraid of.

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Securitization Process

A process where a powerful actor convinces others that something is a serious threat to an important value (referent object), leading to urgent action.

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Securitizing Actor

The person or group trying to raise the alarm, claiming a threat exists and needs immediate attention.

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Existential Threat

A serious danger that threatens the survival or existence of something important (referent object) like a nation, culture, or value.

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Referent Object

What's being protected from the threat. This can be a person, a group, a country, or an idea.

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Extraordinary Measures

Actions taken beyond normal laws or procedures to deal with a perceived security threat. These measures are often controversial.

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Discursive Approach to Security

Security is not just about real threats. It's also about how we talk about threats, and how those conversations shape our understanding and actions.

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Perception vs. Reality

In the discursive conception of security, even if a threat isn't objectively real, its perceived threat is enough to trigger security measures.

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Security Issue Elevation

When an issue is successfully securitized, it becomes recognized as a security threat, allowing extraordinary measures to address it.

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COVID as a Security Issue

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about how we conceptualize public health threats as security issues.

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Annihilation Strategy

A military strategy that aims to completely destroy an enemy's military forces in a decisive battle.

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Dislocation Strategy

A military strategy focused on disrupting an enemy's plans and destabilizing their psychological state through maneuver and rapid movement.

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Attrition Strategy

A military strategy focused on gradually weakening an enemy by inflicting constant losses over time.

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Exhaustion Strategy

A military strategy aimed at reducing an enemy's will to fight by prolonging the conflict and causing fatigue.

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Deterrence Strategy

A strategy employed by states to discourage other actors from taking unwanted actions by showcasing their ability and willingness to inflict harm.

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Coercion Strategy

A strategy that uses threats or limited force to persuade an adversary to change its policies or actions.

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Sea Power

The ability of a nation to control the seas through its navy and merchant shipping, which is essential for national greatness and economic prosperity.

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Key Naval Routes

Important waterways that facilitate global trade and movement of naval forces, such as the Suez Canal or the Strait of Malacca.

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Undersea Cable

A cable laid beneath the ocean floor to carry communication signals, primarily for internet traffic, and potentially vulnerable to disruption.

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Blue Water Navy

A strong navy that can operate in open ocean, capable of projecting power globally.

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Green Water Navy

A navy focused on coastal and littoral operations, specializing in defending shores and islands.

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Brown Water Navy

A navy that operates in rivers, bays, and inland waterways, often involved in riverine warfare or internal security.

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Air Power

The ability to control the skies through the use of air forces, providing advantages in support of ground forces, strategic bombing, and reconnaissance.

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Strategic Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons with long-range capabilities, designed to target an enemy's war-making abilities, including military forces and industrial centers.

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Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons with shorter ranges, primarily used for targeting military forces on the battlefield.

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Nuclear Triad

A combination of three types of nuclear weapons delivery systems: bombers, ballistic missiles, and submarines, providing multiple ways to deter an attack.

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Study Notes

Security and Military Power

  • Security is about protecting the survival of someone or something (referent object of security).
  • The more a referent object's survival is at risk, the greater the threat to security.
  • The referent object answers the question "whose security?". Examples include individual, society, state, and environment.
  • Main components of security issues include existential threats against a referent object, the urgency of the issue, and the application of extraordinary measures to deal with the threat.

Three Questions of Security Studies

  • Definition of Security
  • Three analytic tools for a security analyst:
    • Conception of security
    • Referent object of security
    • Security sectors

Definition of Security (Continued)

  • Different conceptions of security exist.
  • Objective Conception: Security issues exist independently. Security is achieved in the absence of threats. (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute)
  • Subjective Conception: Not all threats are equally important. Security is the absence of fear. (Federation of American Scientists)
  • Discursive Conception: Security issues are constructed and framed, not discovered. This construction is done through the process of securitization.

Security Issues and Threats

  • Deaths in the US:
    • Unintentional falls: 44,630 deaths per year
    • Smoking: 480,000 deaths per year
    • Secondhand smoke: 40,000 deaths among nonsmokers and 400 deaths in infants per year
    • Gun suicides and murders: fluctuating yearly numbers, but substantial.
  • Terrorism Fatalities: Yearly figures varying.
  • Global Military Spending: A pie chart showing distribution among 15 leading countries. Data from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

Securitization Process

  • Steps in the securitization process:
    • A securitizing actor attempts to convince a relevant audience.
    • The actor presents an existential threat to a referent object.
    • If the audience accepts the threat, the issue is elevated to the level of security.
    • This elevation allows extraordinary measures to address the security threat.
    • Successful securitization can lead to measures beyond conventional laws.

Impact of Successful Securitization

  • Extraordinary measures beyond normal legal and social norms can be used. Examples: wiretapping, mandatory lockdowns.

Discursive Conception of Security (Continued)

  • Perception of a threat is a major factor.
  • The capacity of threats to cause harm is not always a necessary condition for considering them a security issue.
  • Different types of harm, including behaviors like smoking, can be framed as security threats if perceived as such.

Three Analytic Tools for Security (Continued)

  • Security Sectors:
    • Military
    • Environmental
    • Political
    • Economic
    • Societal
    • Cybersecurity

Geopolitics

  • Geopolitics is the study of how geography, economics, and demography influence a state's foreign policy.

Military Security

  • The military sector addresses internal and external military threats.

  • Internal threats include separatist movements, terrorist organizations, and militant drug cartels.

  • External threats include occupation by other states, and loss of territory or resources.

  • States invest in land, naval, air, and nuclear forces.

  • Alfred Mahan emphasized naval power and the importance of maritime trade routes for national greatness.

  • Different types of water are identified:

    • Blue water: oceanic, furthest from land
    • Green water: oceanic littoral
    • Brown water: rivers, bays

  • Key naval routes are listed including Suez Canal, Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, and Panama Canal.

  • Undersea cables are discussed.

Air Power

  • Air power is used for control of the skies and to support ground forces.

  • Air power can bypass traditional military barriers and effectively strike targets unreachable by land or naval forces.

Nuclear Weapons

  • Strategic nuclear weapons are used for attack on war industries and military production centers.

  • Tactical nuclear weapons are used for attack on enemy military forces on the battlefield.

  • The nuclear triad discusses three methods for delivering nuclear weapons: bombers, ballistic missiles, and submarines.

Military Strategies

  • Military strategies:
    • Annihilation: destroying an enemy's material strength by decisive battle
    • Dislocation: achieving victory by maneuvering and knocking an adversary off-balance
    • Attrition: destroying an enemy's physical capacity to fight
    • Exhaustion: targeted at an enemy's willingness to fight
    • Deterrence: dissuading others from changing policies by the capacity to inflict and endure pain
      • Coercion: persuading adversaries to change policy through show or use of force

Environmental Security

  • Environmental security relates to issues like climate change, deforestation, sustainable development, fertile soil loss, global sea-level rise, and the impact of depleted uranium on the environment, and energy problems like nuclear waste.

Economic Security

  • Economic security focuses on access to markets, resources, financial stability, and trade.

  • Approaches to economic security include mercantilism (advocating government intervention to increase state wealth) and liberalism (limited government intervention).

Political, Societal, and Cyber Security

  • Political security concerns non-military threats to state sovereignty.

  • Societal security protects a society's identity and cohesion.

  • Cyber security reduces insecurity in cyberspace (both physical and virtual).

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Security and Military Power PDF

Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of security and military power in this quiz. Understand the different referent objects and the major components that define security issues. Test your knowledge of the three questions that shape security studies.

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