INTELSECT (Midterms)

4.0

U.S Foreign Policy under Donal Trump to concerns about international security and global instablity?

Uncertainty in international relations challenging long-standing alliances and institutions traditionally led by the United States.

U.S Foreign Policy under Donal Trump to concerns about international security and global instablity?

Global stability is under threat because many countries depended on U.S leadership for security cooperation defense commitments, and diplomatic coordination.

U.S Foreign Policy under Donal Trump to concerns about international security and global instablity?

Weakening of trust in alliances increased fears that conflicts could become harder to manage and that rival powers might compete more aggressively for influence.

Advantages and Risks of multipolar world?

Power is distributed among several major states instead of being dominated by one superpower. Encourage more balanced decision-making and reduce dependence on a single country.

Advantages and Risks of multipolar world?

It may risks competition among several powerful states may increase tensions, create regional rivalries and more international cooperation more difficult. Without a clear leading managing crises and preventing wars may become more complicated.

European states considering stronger independent defense arrangements, importance of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international security?

European states are considering stronger independent defense systems because they are uncertain about the realibility of continued U.S support.

European states considering stronger independent defense arrangements, importance of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international security?

Trump’s approach caused some allies to question whether the United States would fully uphold its security commitments. ( uncertainty makes new decisions)

European states considering stronger independent defense arrangements, importance of alliances such as NATO in maintaining international security?

NATO: collective defense, deterrence against aggression, and coodinated responses to threats. (Alliances maintain stability, cooperation, and predictability).

How the erosion of international law and humanitarian law undermine the global security frameworks?

Disregards the war crimes, protect civilians, and regulated state behavior.

How the erosion of international law and humanitarian law undermine the global security frameworks?

Ignoring international rules = small states may feel insecure, leading to arms races or regional stability.

How International Security addeses the military threats amidst the concerns of Antonio Patriota (FPM of Brazil)?

It broadens the definition of security. It give progress and expand strategies on how to address these concers.

How International Security addeses the military threats amidst the concerns of Antonio Patriota (FPM of Brazil)?

Intel Sect should integrate environmental, technological, and political dimensions alongside tradtitional concerns.

Unilateralism

one superpower acting alone (me against the world) in military or foreign policy decisions, often disregarding intel law, which destabilizes global security.

Multilateralism

Cooperative approach among multiple states to address security challenges collectively, seen as a counterbalance to unilateral actions.

European Defense Union

proposed framework for European countries to take a greater responsibility for their own defense, reducing reliance on U.S security guarantees.

European Defense Union

lessens their reliance on U.S, multilateralism

Erosion of Democratic Governance

Weakening democratic institutions undermines stability and increases risks of conflict, impacting international security.

Rising MIlitary Spending

Nations are increasing their defense spending in response to perceived threats, which can escalate arms races and tensions.

Disregard for International Law

Actions like unauthorized military interventions weaken global norms and reduce trust in international institutions.

Multipolarity

The shirt from U.S dominance to multiple centers of power (Europe, China, Africa, Latin America), reshaping global security dynamics.

Unilateralism

Single superpower, acting alone in foreign and security policy, often disregarding international law and collective decision-making.

Global Conflict

Ongoing wars and regional disputes highlight the fragility of peace and the need for stronger international coordination.

Technological Advancements

Innovations in cyber, AI, and surveillance create both opportunities and risks for global security.

Rule of Law Erosion

Security Implication: Weakens trust in treaties, undermines peacekeeping.

Politicized Security Forces

Security Implications: Increases risk of repression, instability

Hybried Regimes

Security Implications: Creates fragile states vulnerable to conflict

External Influence

Security Implications: Exploits weak governance, destabilizes alliances

Digital Polarization

Security Implications: Fuels mistrust, hampers coordinated responses

International Security

Condition in which states work together through multilateral institutions, diplomacy, international law, and collective defense arrangements to reduce conflict, manage global threats, and maintain global stability. It implies reduced relience on the dominance of a single powerful country.

Threat

Any actor, action, condition, or development that has potential to harm the security, survival, interests, values, or well-being of a state, society, or individual.

When does a Threat exist?

Barry Buzan: it exists when something is perceived as endangering a valued referent object - such as a state, nation, society, or individual- and requires measures to address or mitigate the danger.

When does a Threat exist?

Paul D. Williams: undermine the survival, stability, of functioning of political communities and other referent objects.

Traditional Security Threats

state to state

Traditional Security Threats

Threats to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of a state.

Traditional Security Threats

Usually involving military force or the threat of force by another state or armed actor.

Characteristics of Traditional Threats (SMSM)

• State-centric

• Military-focused

• Concerned with territorial defense and identity

• Managed primarily through armed forces, alliances, and diplomacy

Example of Traditional Security Threats

Interstate War: state to state, direct military conflict between states.

Traditional Security Threats

Territorial Disputes: disputes in the South China Sea.

Traditional Security Threats

Military Invasion: state’s armed forces crossing intro another state’s territory.

Traditional Security Threats

Nuclear Proliferation: concerns regarding nuclear weapons programs in countries such as North Korea.

Traditional Security Threats

Armed Insurgencies and Civil War: Internal armed conflicts that threaten state authority and stability.

Non-Traditional Security Threats

Threaten the well-being of individuals, societies, and states but are not primarily military in nature.

Non-Traditional Security Threats

Often cross borders and require cooperation among governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society. Transnational

Non-Traditional Security Threats

Associated with broader concepts such as human security.

Characteristics of Non-Traditional Threats (ONAR)

• Often Transnational

• Non-military in nature

• Affect individuals and communities directly

• Require multi-sectoral and international cooperation

Examples of Non-Traditional Security Threats

Climate Change: Rising sea levels, stronger storms, droughts, and environmental degradation.

Examples of Non-Traditional Security Threats

Pandemics and Infectious Diseases: COVID-19, which disrupt economies, healthcare systems, and governance

Examples of Non-Traditional Security Threats

Cybersecurity Threats: Cyberattacks on government networks, financial systems, or critical infrastructure.

Examples of Non-Traditional Security Threats

Transnational Organized Crime: Drug, human trafficking, money laundering, and smuggling netwroks.

Examples of Non-Traditional Security Threats

Food Security: Shortages of food supplies due to conflict, climate change, or economic disruption.

Traditional Security

• State-centered

• Military threats

• Sovereignty and territory

• Armed forces

• Usually short-term crises

• e.g: War

Non-Traditional Security

• Human and society-centered

• Non-military threats

• Welfare, resilience, and survival

• Multiple actors respond

• Often long-term challenges.

Frameworks

Used to to explain, predict, and analyze how and other international actors interact in the global system.

Anarchy

A lack of a central government that can enforce rules

Negative Consequence of Anarchy

Security dilemma

Balance of Power

General concept of one or more state’s power being used to balance that of another state or group of states, e.g alliances; maintains stability in the international system.

Sovereignty

States are separate and autonomous and answer to no higher authority.

Realism

• Power

• Realpolitik

• State

• Self-interest

Realism: Statecraft

The art of managing state affairs and effectively maneuvering in a world of power politics among sovereign states.

Realism: Power Politics

Exercise of power by states toward each other is called realpolitik.

Realism Theorist

Hans Morgenthau: German-born American pol-scientist, published Politics Among Nations.

Six Principles of Political Realism (PNNUMP)

• Politics is governed by objective laws rooted in human nature

• National interest is defined by power

• National interest is always dynamic

• Universal moral principles cannot be applied to state actions

• Moral aspirations of a state are not universal

• Political realism recognizes autonomy of the political sphere

Realism

The realm (anarchic) is self-help is the primary motivation.

Realism

States must provide security for themselves because no other agency or actor can be counted on to do so.

Realism in Diplomacy

States have always followed their interests; where the interests don’t align and conflicts arise, it’s the ROLE FO DIPLOMACY to support these interests and avoid conflict.

Classical Liberalism

Emphasizing individual freedom, reason, and progress.

Immanuel Kant

Perpetual peace (promoting a republican form of government, international law, and global sense of community).

John Locke

Natural rights and limited government, are seen as champions of liberalism.

Liberalism

Political doctrine, protecting and enhancing the freedom of individual to be the central problem of politics.

Liberalism

Government is necessary to protect individuals from being harmed by others. Government can also pose threat to liberty.

Liberalism

Sense of the importance of human individuality.

Practice of Adversariality

Process in which institutionalized competition that generates a dynamic social order.

General Characteristics of Liberalism

• Emphasizes democratic governance and free markets.

General Characteristics of Liberalism

Classical Liberalism: Minimal state intervention

General Characteristics of Liberalism

Social Liberalism: More active state role in addressing social and economic inequality.

Liberal Internationalism

• Progress is achievable through international collaboration

• Commitment to international institutions

• Influence of international institutions fluctuate

• Criticism stems from the perception of imposition of liberal values on other cultures.

Alexander Wendt

Anarchy is what states make of it.

ALEXANDER WENDT’S ANARCHY: CONSTRUCTIVIST

Suggests that the nature of IR is not predetermined by the absence of a
world government, but is socially constructed through interaction and shared beliefs of states.

CONSTRUCTIVISM

Sees world affairs as being dominantly shaped by institutions, processes, and values borne out of social constructs or ideas.

CONSTRUCTIVISM

Reality does not have an objective value and is dependent on the dynamics of human relationships and society’s shared ideas.

CONSTRUCTIVISM

The most important aspect of international relations is social and not material.

Key Tenets (SRI)

• Social Construct of Reality

• Role of Ideas and Norms

• Identity and Interests

Social Construct of Reality

The international system is not fixed but a construct of ideas.

Role of Ideas and Norms

Ideas and norms, not just material capabilities, play a crucial role in shaping state behavior.

Identity and Interests

A state’s identity strongly influences its interests and self-actions.

Constructivism in International Security

State interests are not fixed but constructed by the identities of states
and their interactions with others.

Constructivism in International Security

Because the international system is socially constructed, it is not
immutable. Ideas can change leading to shifts in state behavior and
international relations.

Sovereignty through Constructivist Lens

Not a natural law, but a socially constructed norm that has changed overtime and varies across culture.

Securitization Theory

A state or political actor can transform an ordinary political issue into an urgent, existential security threat.

Securitization Theory

Copenhagen School: scholars Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver

Securitization Theory

Heavily rooted in social constructivism, it argues that threats are not simply "out there" waiting to be discovered; they are socially constructed through language.

The Post-9/11 "War on Terror"

Bypassed standard peacetime politics: the passage of the Patriot Act (expanding mass surveillance), the creation of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and the launch of preemptive military invasions.