The changing concept of security
Wednesday, 24 September 2008
Syed Ashraful Hasan
The traditional concept of security has undergone a sea change. Previously, a state's security was identified mainly with military security. Developments at the international, regional and local levels over the last three decades or so, proved this to be fallacious. For instance, the former Soviet Union, an awesome military power was erroneously considered to be secured due to its military might. But in the eighties it became apparent that the Soviet Union was hardly secure as a political or federated entity. Suppression of nationalist sentiments among its federating units and the unmet economic aspirations of its people had weakened the Soviet Union from within.
The common people of Russia became more and more unconvinced about orthodox communist doctrines. The worldwide communication revolution made Russians aware of high standards of living in the western countries. It did not require an external invasion to destroy the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union collapsed from within.
The Soviet example underlines how conventional ideas of security, through military might or military blocs, have largely given way to newer ideas of security provided by democratic political system. At the core of new thinking of security remains desire for economic well-being or economic security of common people of a state.
The governments should endeavour to provide security. An absence of economic well-being can generate instability. Refugees due to economic reasons are pouring into adjoining countries and this can give rise to political and social problems. Economically insecure states can turn xenophobic. Democratic governance and economic progress can create peace for a country. But some countries seek to make more propaganda in those areas.
In this context, the Indo-Pakistan relations, the Afghan situation and the US intrusions into Pakistan heighten security concerns for the region.
South Asia today is a stressed region in relation to its security. It is home to the world's largest concentration of poor. Again, India has the biggest concentrations of the world's poor. Why so many farmers of India had to commit suicide due to poverty despite the country's phenomenal economic growth is a big question.
Given this scenario and the priority for strengthening efforts to help promote economic security of the people, Bangladesh needs to engage itself pro-actively to drawing up action programmes and also implementing them in earnest so that the it can ensure a secure economic future for its teeming millions in a democratic polity.
The traditional concept of security has undergone a sea change. Previously, a state's security was identified mainly with military security. Developments at the international, regional and local levels over the last three decades or so, proved this to be fallacious. For instance, the former Soviet Union, an awesome military power was erroneously considered to be secured due to its military might. But in the eighties it became apparent that the Soviet Union was hardly secure as a political or federated entity. Suppression of nationalist sentiments among its federating units and the unmet economic aspirations of its people had weakened the Soviet Union from within.
The common people of Russia became more and more unconvinced about orthodox communist doctrines. The worldwide communication revolution made Russians aware of high standards of living in the western countries. It did not require an external invasion to destroy the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union collapsed from within.
The Soviet example underlines how conventional ideas of security, through military might or military blocs, have largely given way to newer ideas of security provided by democratic political system. At the core of new thinking of security remains desire for economic well-being or economic security of common people of a state.
The governments should endeavour to provide security. An absence of economic well-being can generate instability. Refugees due to economic reasons are pouring into adjoining countries and this can give rise to political and social problems. Economically insecure states can turn xenophobic. Democratic governance and economic progress can create peace for a country. But some countries seek to make more propaganda in those areas.
In this context, the Indo-Pakistan relations, the Afghan situation and the US intrusions into Pakistan heighten security concerns for the region.
South Asia today is a stressed region in relation to its security. It is home to the world's largest concentration of poor. Again, India has the biggest concentrations of the world's poor. Why so many farmers of India had to commit suicide due to poverty despite the country's phenomenal economic growth is a big question.
Given this scenario and the priority for strengthening efforts to help promote economic security of the people, Bangladesh needs to engage itself pro-actively to drawing up action programmes and also implementing them in earnest so that the it can ensure a secure economic future for its teeming millions in a democratic polity.