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Understanding Security in International Relations

The document discusses the concept of security in International Relations, highlighting both its objective and subjective elements as defined by Arnold Wolfers. It outlines the evolution of security studies from the early period (1919-1950) focusing on multi-disciplinary approaches to the Cold War years (1950-1990) where military security became predominant. The text also mentions the influence of political realism and dissident voices addressing non-Western security issues during the Cold War.

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11 views9 pages

Understanding Security in International Relations

The document discusses the concept of security in International Relations, highlighting both its objective and subjective elements as defined by Arnold Wolfers. It outlines the evolution of security studies from the early period (1919-1950) focusing on multi-disciplinary approaches to the Cold War years (1950-1990) where military security became predominant. The text also mentions the influence of political realism and dissident voices addressing non-Western security issues during the Cold War.

Uploaded by

elm.dmert6075
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

• Security is the central concept of the International Relations.

• What is security?
• What is to be secured?
• What it means to be secured?
Classical Definition of Security
Arnold Wolfers, 1963
‘‘In any objective sense, security measures the
absence of threats to acquired values. In
subjective sense, it is also the absence of threats
to acquired values, the absence of fear that such
values will be attacked’’
Objective and Subjective Elements
• Therefore, the concept has both an objective and subjective element.
• In an objective sense, it is not to be under threat.
• In a subjective sense, it is the feeling of not to be under threat.
• There are many different ways to think about security.
The Evolution of the Security
Studies
• The early period (1919-1950)
Security as a multi-disciplinary and multi-dimensional problem
Development of International Law and Rules
Reasons of war
Political, economic and psychological aspects of war and peace.
Cold War Years: 1950s- 1990
• The second period but its main tenets are still influential
• Scientific approach to the study of security
• Security studies focused on the threat, use and management of
military force in the interests of state security.
• Objectivist political science
• Quantitative analysis on the level and quality of weapons and the
accumulation of military power
Cold war years
• Security meant to be military security, it was identified with military
security.
• Security obtained by military means.
• Golden years, academy influenced the politics to a large extent.
• Science under the service of politics
• Strategists having close connections with the governments
Cold War years: The Golden Age of
Security Studies as Strategic Studies
• Theories of nuclear deterrence
• System analysis
• Structure of armed forces
• Resource allocation
• Tools for crises management
Cold War years: Political Realism
• Four Ss
• States: Main actors
• Strategy: Best means for threat and use of force
• Science: Objective knowledge
• Status Quo: Great powers’ preferences
Dissident Voices of the Cold war
years
• Peace Researchers: Security problems of the non-Western world
• Structural obstacles on the way for a stable peace in world politics

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