QUESTION: DEFINE SECURITY?WHAT IS MEANT BY INTERNATIONAL SECURITY?

WHAT IS THE LIBERAL AND REALIST PERSPECTIVE ABOUT SECURITY? HOW DOES
PAKISTAN VIEW ITS SECURITY?

Security is a very wide term. It has a relevance to varous arenas like social securiy,
job security, financial security, human security, food security and many more. Each
of them comprises of its own set of threats and response relationships. However, a
general definition of security can be traced from the most frequently used Wikipedia
which defines security as ‘the degree of protection against danger” 1 . A more
elaborative definition is provided at Hrtribune according to which security means to
be free from threat and as such the term includes all the meanings which
encompasses all considerations of existence. Defined objectively, it means absence of
threats to acquired values in a subjective sense. In other words, the absence of fear
that such values be dying out. A comparatively simple yet broader definition can be, “
the absence of a threat towards every human, group, and state able to threaten the
international system itself and its environment,including economy, energy, and
military aspects.” 2

In the field of International relations, security assumes the measures adopted by the
nations and international organizations to ensure mutual survial and safety. These
measures include not only military action but also diplomatic agreements. According
to John Stremlau, the term international security is very ambigious. Its accurate
meaning always remained obscure and indescribable. 3 Over the two major concepts
have evolved under the banner of international security, they are the traditional
concept and the concept of human security. Stephen E. Sachs in his article compares
and contrasts the two concepts. The traditional concept defines security in terms of
effective monopoly on the use or certification of violence within a given territory.
Security in this re gard is state centric. To the contrary, the concept of human
security caters for individual’s safety in arenas of basic needs. Sachs opines that;

“There is no reason to generalize the ends of security beyond the protection of

local monopoly of violence , and thereby to jettison the useful work that the concept
still can peform.” 4

The term is clearly and precisely defined by Haftendorn. He states that international
security can be defined as a concept of security which deters the enemy of attacking

1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security
2
A New Post Cold War Definition of Securit: Defining security in 21st century.Accesses from :
http://knol.google.com/k/a-new-post-cold-war-definition-of-security#
3
John Stremlau;”After the cold war: Security for development”. Accessed from http://books.google.com.pk/books?
id=AgBwJy0R9W0C&pg=PA3&dq=topic:+international+security&lr=&as_brr=1&cd=2#v=onepage&q=topic%3A
%20international%20security&f=false

4
Stephen E. Sachs, “the changing definition of security.” Accessed from :
http://www.stevesachs.com/papers/paper_security.html
and further implies that security of one state is closely linked to that of other states
atleat of one other state 5 .

THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SECURITY: REALISTS VS LIBERALS

For the realists, security is of crucial importance for the states which are the
principle actors in international system. In an anarchic world a state cannot
function without security. A state’s survival is dependent upon its security. To ensure
the security, a state need power. However , the state’s pursuit of maximazation of its
power gives rise to the security dilemma. Realists approach the issue of managing
insecurity through balance of powerand deterrence.

Contrary to the realists, liberals visualize international system is inclusive of states,

IGOs, NGOs, multinational corporations and substste actors as major actors in
international politics. According to them the actors in international politics are
interdependent and international institutions may coordinate their actions to
manage power. However, the security may be challenged by an agressor who is
always wrong, identifable and must be stopped. In order to ensure security, the
states join together for collective security. The later posits that an illegitimate
agressor must be refrained through the united action of other states. Collective
security is also appreciable to deter a potential agressor. Furthermore, liberals
propose the arms control and disarmament as a vital approach to manage insecurity.
The basic logic behind it is : “fewer weapons means greater security”. 6

PAKISTANS PERSPECTIVE ON ITS SECURITY

Pakistan is situated in South Asia which is the region of paramount strategic

importance and logically having great security concerns. Since its independence
pakistan faced various security challenges. They range fro territorial disputes to
terrorism, militance, economic vulnerability and backwardness etc. historically,
Pakistan’s security concerns were dominated by Kashmir issue. The security dilemma
between India and Pakistan prevails since 1947. The issue of cross-border terrorism
and militany, which may be regarded as legacy of Afghan war, has badly shakened
the security of the state.

Pakistan catered for its security needs in a number of ways. It adopted the doctrine
of deterrence in both conventional and nuclear fields viz a viz india at one hand. On
the other hand it also continued the process of dialogue and Confidence Building
Measures. In order to seek allies to ensure security it went so far to sign the cold war

5
Haftendorn( 1991).’The security puzzle: theory-building and discipline-building in international security’. International
Studies Quarlerly,35(1),pp 3-17
6
Mingst A.Karen (2004). Essentials of International Relations. London: W.W Norton & Company. p.p 228
military pacts like CEATO and SENTO with the West. After the 9/11 incident, it
became front line ally of USA to curb out terrorists. Moreover, the use of force was
applied in the areas of Swat and FATA in order to suppress internal militancy.
Despite multidimensional efforts to ensure its security Pakistan still faces the same
threats and is still insecure.

ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSION

The term international security is always in reference to either an individual, state

or international system. However, critically the security of individual as well as
international system is dependent upon the action of state. For instance, practically
the notion of human security remains a unattainable cherished goal without a
degree of state sponsorship or sanction.

The two schools of thought i.e realists and liberals takes into account the insecurity
of states. Realists propose deterrence and balance of power to prevent insecurity
whereas liberals suggest collective security and arms control and disarmament.
However, it is impossible to adopt a single approach to tackle insecurity in different
situations. An effective security policy would need an effective and thoughtful
combination of all these approaches. A successful security policy must be flexible
rather than to stick to a single approach.

Pakistan has many security concerns. In order to meet its security needs it went not
only for deterrence and use of force but also cooperation and dialogue.

In short, international security is a wide concept and is evolutionary in character

given the changing international situation.

REFERENCES:

A New Post Cold War Definition of Securit: Defining security in 21 st century.Accesses

from : http://knol.google.com/k/a-new-post-cold-war-definition-of-security#

Bapir M. Ali. Defining Security in an International Context. Hrtribune(28-06-2009).

Retrived from: http://www.hrtribune.net/View.aspx?id=130

Haftendorn( 1991).’The security puzzle: theory-building and discipline-building in

international security’. International Studies Quarlerly,35(1),pp 3-17

Maqbool A. Bhatty. Multilateral Approaches To Security Issues In South Asia A

Pakistani Perspective. Retrived from: http://knol.google.com/k/a-new-post-cold-war-
definition-of-security#

Mingst A.Karen (2004). Essentials of International Relations. London: W.W Norton &
Company. p.p 228

Stephen E. Sachs, “the changing definition of security.” Accessed from :

http://www.stevesachs.com/papers/paper_security.html
John Stremlau;”After the cold war: Security for development”. Accessed from
http://books.google.com.pk/books?id=AgBwJy0R9W0C&pg=PA3&dq=topic:
+international+security&lr=&as_brr=1&cd=2#v=onepage&q=topic%3A
%20international%20security&f=false

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security

http://dictionary.babylon.com/international%20security