Presented by

Abid Hussain Assistant Library Officer (National Defence

University Islamabad

Elements of National Security

Contents in This Presentation What is National Security Definition of National Security Concept of National Security Various Aspects of Security Elements of National Security Military Security Political Security Economic Security Energy Security Diplomacy Media/Information Base Wholesome View of Security Human Security Food Security Health Security Environmental Security Personal Security Community Security Political Security•

What is National Security

Every nation strives to protect its core values, aimed atenabling people to lead their lives in free and securedenvironments according to their shared commonbeliefs by preserving their national identity andsovereignty. A Stable Proposed model of NationalSecurity, “national security is an umbrella underwhich these core values are well protected andpromoted through application of well thought outnational security strategy.

Definition of National Security

National security is the ability to preserve thenation's physical integrity and territory; to maintainits economic relations with the rest of the world onreasonable terms; to preserve its nature, institution,and governance from disruption from outside; and tocontrol its borders. Macmillan Dictionary (onlineversion), defines the term as "the protection or thesafety of a country’s secrets and its citizens"emphasizing the overall security of a nation and anation state.

Concept of National Security

Security is an all inclusive concept that in themodern world takes into account multiple aspects.It has evolved overtime from narrow understandingof security which was more in the realm of defencealone. Generally it considered as the absence ofthreats. Or in other words this is also understood asthe quest for freedom from threat and in thecontext of states and societies; it is their ability tomaintain their own identity and functional integrityagainst forces of change.

Various Aspects of Security

The ICG identifies several aspects of security asfollows:-

National Security, Community Security, PersonalSecurity, Environmental Security and PersonalLiberty.

However, conceptual understanding and constructdoes vary with Contemporary interpretation ofnational security.

Elements of National Security

Military Security Political Security Economic Security Energy Security Diplomacy Media/ Information Base Wholesome View of Security Human Security Food Security Health Security Environmental Security Personal Security Community Security Political Security

Elements of National Security

The elements of national security may differ dependingupon different viewpoints and percept's. Besides themilitary aspect of security, the aspects of diplomacy,politics; society; environment; energy and naturalresources; and economy are usually discussed. Theelements of national security are interconnected withthe elements of national power. Security from narcoticcartels, economic security, environmental securityand energy security are listed as the non-militaryelements of national security. The Elements of NationalSecurity are mentioned below.

Military Security• This is traditionally, the earliest recognized and mostly

construed form of national security. Military security impliesthe capability of a nation to defend itself, and/or determilitary aggression to its frontiers. Alternatively, military securityimplies the capability of a nation to enforce its policy choices byuse of military force . One of the definitions of security given inthe dictionary of Military and Associated Term is, “Acondition that results from the establishment andmaintenance of protective measure s that ensure a state ofinviolability from hostile acts or influences. Military securitytraditionally lies at the heart of nation state conceptfurthered by Westphalia Concept.

Political Security

The political aspect of security has been offered b yBarry Buzan, Ole Waever, Jaap de Wilde of CopenhagenSchool of Thought as an important component ofnational security. Political security is about the stabilityof the social order . Closely allied to military securityand societal security, other components proposed ina framework for national security.

Economic Security

Economic security contributes to the overall securityin a big way. Without ensuring the economicsecurity, other forms of security remain incomplete.The economic security of the people and state isinterdependent. In today’s complex system ofinternational trade, characterized by multi-nationalagreements, mutual inter-dependence and availabilityof natural resources etcetera, the freedom to followchoice of policies to develop a nation’s economy in themanner desired, forms the essence of economicsecurity. Economic security calls for an assured basicincome for the people in a state.

Energy Security

Energy security and economic security are intrinsicallylinked to each other as energy assumes the role oflifeline for economic security. 85 % of the country’sestimated 40,000 MW potential remains untapped. Atthe level of people, the load shedding of electricity andgas has created problems for the people of Pakistan.The provision of these commodities is responsibility ofstate. Resources include water, sources of energy, landand minerals.

Diplomacy

Diplomacy is one of the many instruments that agovernment utilizes in its pursuit of national interests.It never functions in isolation from the otherinstruments of national power but at times may beemphasized as the situation warrants. In its simplestform, diplomacy is the official means by which onestate formally deals with other states. Being animportant pillar of statecraft and effective toolamongst the nations to interact with each other,this must be effectively and most judiciouslyutilized.

Media/ Information Base

Being the 4thpillar of state, it must provide security tothe state against all external and internal anti-statenarratives and themes. It is this ability of the mediathat makes it fight on conceptual, psychological andideological planes. If media is effective, proactive andresponsible, it will augment national spirit and societalbondages. On the contrary, it will weaken the social/national fiber by spreading more chaos and confusion.

Wholesome View of Security

It is critical to view national security in a holisticmanner. A host of significant threats to the state andsociety stem from other forms of security in addition toHuman Security. Dr. Sania Nishtar has given out severalforms of security in addition to the traditional security.Traditional security relates to the security of nationstate centered on ensuring survival through use ofeconomic, political and military power and throughadroit diplomacy.

Human Security

One of the important dimensions of nationalsecurity is human security which is slightly adeparture from other forms of the traditional securityfocusing on the state. Human security has the peopleas its primary focus. Human security has multipledimensions i.e. economic security, food security, watersecurity, personal security, community security,environmental and Health Security.

Food Security

Food security entails that all people of a particularstate at all times have easy access to basic food.According to the United Nations, the overall availabilityof food is not a problem; rather the problem often isthe poor distribution of food and a lack of purchasingpower prevailing amongst the people.

Health Security

Health Security covers assurance of minimumprotection from diseases and unhealthy lifestyles.According to the United Nations, in both developingand industrial countries, threats to health security areusually more for poor people in rural areas,particularly children. The threats include the dangersemerging from emerging and re-emerging infectionsand public health emergencies of national andinternational concern. Non provision of health securityis due to malnutrition and insufficient access tohealth services.

Environmental Security

Environmental security is linked with energy, food andwater security. Environmental hazards accentuate theproblems of the people in relation to health, foodand energy security of the people. Environmentalsecurity aims to protect people from the consequencesof nature, man-made threats in nature, anddeterioration of the natural environment. Globalwarming, caused by the emission of greenhouse gases,is another environmental security problem.

Personal Security

Personal security can be defined as set of severalthings. “Personal security is the feeling of being secure,having a personal or residential security system, orbeing aware of your surroundings. Personal securityguarantees the subject people from physical violence,both from the state or external actors, from domesticabuse, or from predatory adults. At large the commoncause of personal insecurity is due to crimes especiallyviolent crimes.

Community Security

Community security aims to protect people, theirfamilies and belongings as a shared responsibility.The community seeks to protect itself against any kindof violence stemming from ethnic and sectarianangles. Normally minority ethnic and sectariangroups are often threatened. It is the stateresponsibility to provide security to all communitiesirrespective of their size and strength.

Political Security

Political security is about honouring the basic humanrights of the people by the state. According to a surveyconducted by Amnesty International, politicalrepression, systematic torture, ill treatment ordisappearance was still practiced in 110 countries.Human rights violations are most frequent duringperiods of political unrest.

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