Transcript Why Security matters?

Professor David J. Francis
Head
Department of Peace Studies &
Director
John & Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS)
University of Bradford
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Security matters because:
Important topic, if not, deadly concept in
contemporary world politics today
Lens to make sense of world politics and national &
Regional Politics & Development issues
Deadly concept because in the NAME of ‘security’,
people are killed, raped, tortured, imprisoned,
massacred, starved to death & denied access to
basic necessities of life
Africa today, most of the violent and antidemocratic actions by Governments and States are
JUSTIFIED in the name of Security
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Security: means different things to different people, agencies,
institutions & at different times
Military, Security & Intelligence agencies have a particular
understanding of ‘Security’
Politicians, Policy Analysts & Practitioners have different
understanding of ‘Security’
Individuals & local communities, depending on their
particular circumstances, have different understanding of
‘Security’
Academics have diverse interpretations of ‘Security’:
Barry Buzan, People, States & Fear (1991): 13 different
definitions
Alan Collins, Contemporary Security Studies (2007): 9
different definitions
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Security: political connotation
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Plays important role in world politics
Determines who Get What, When, Why & How
Associated with High-Politics
Become a powerful political tool used to set agenda:
President G. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ after 9/11
Boko Haram Terrorist threats in Nigeria & West Africa
Al Shabbab Terrorist threats & Piracy in Somalia, Horn of Africa & East Africa
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Security: normative connotation
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Perceived as a good thing / a public good
About protection, feeling safe, stability, order, peace & development
Contradictions: attempt to protect some people, groups or states from fear may produce
insecurity & fear in others
Security: practical implications
‘Security’ not simply an academic & intellectual pursuit
About practical & policy interventions
Achieving security for ‘Real People in Real situations’
Changing lives: positive social & political change
 Security
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is about:
‘Condition of being or feeling safe from harm or
danger’ (Terriff et al, 1999)
Protection, preservation & removal of threats to
‘core values’ or ‘acquired values:
Freedom, religious identity, identity as a nation
& way of life
‘Conditions of human existence’, i.e. security is
simply about Survival at state level, societal
level, individual
More than ‘Survival’ because it is about
emancipation (Ken Booth, ‘Security &
Emancipation’ 1991)
1. Accumulation of Power:
 More power one has (i.e. military power) the
more secure
 Critique: asymmetrical wars, multiple
security threats, terrorism
2. Emancipation:
 Freedom from life determining threats: e.g.
poverty
 Freedom from FEAR & WANT
 Preoccupied with Justice & Human Rights
Security Studies is threats to survival but those
threats are far reaching
What Threats?
Organised State
Violence
Beyond the State
 Paradigm Shift in Defining Security:
 From Traditional Military Concept of ‘Security’ to Soft-edged
understanding of Security
 From State-centric understanding of security to Human Security Change in Referent Object of Security
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‘Securitisation’ of Everything:
What type of security are we talking about?
Who decides what security means?
Who determines the security agenda?
‘Security’ for WHOM, WHAT & for What Purpose?
What is to be secured?
How can security be achieved?
Who pays for Security & at what cost?
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National Security
Common Security /
Co-operative Security
Security Dilemma
Security Regime
Security Community
Collective Security
Regional Security
Complex
International Security
Traditional Security
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Human Security
Societal Security
Global Security
Non-military Security
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Arguments:
Africa demonstrates the limits of traditional &
dominant approaches to security:
 Traditional approaches to security when applied to
Africa fundamentally misrepresents & neglects the
everyday realities of multiple Non-military sources of
threat to security
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The State in Africa has become a Source of
insecurity & threat to peoples & societies:
 Violent & illegal activities of State Military & Security
Agencies as well as Corrupt Ruling & Governing Elites
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Understanding the context & nature of security problematic in Africa:
Impact & legacies of:
Slave trade economy
Colonialism & Colonial Rule
Cold War Politics
Manner of incorporation of African into Global Economy (IDP & IDL)
Have all Created fundamental Structural problems
All still continue to impact & determine how security is interpreted & responded
to in Africa –E.g. French Colonial Pact in Africa
Security threat (s) in Africa not Homogenous or Uniform
Different Regions faced with diverse Forms / Sources of threat to security
In context of Africa: Link between Military & Non-military Sources of threat to
Security
Non-military Sources of Threat to Security (e.g. Poverty) sometimes escalates
into armed conflicts & wars
Non-military dimensions of security have & continue to threaten individual &
Societal Security just as National & State Security
Nexus of Security & Development in context of Africa
Military Security
Threats/Traditional Security
Non-Military Threats /
Non-Traditional Security
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Wars and Armed Conflicts
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Natural Disasters: Floods, Famine &
Drought
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Political Violence: e.g. post-election
violence in Kenya 2007
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Health/Disease: HIV/AIDs pandemic
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Resource scarcity : Water & Land
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Environmental Degradation / Climate
Change
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Poverty & underdevelopment: income
& human poverty
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Internal Displacement, Forced
Migration & Refugees
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Criminal Violence / Transboarder
criminal violence
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Terrorism / Militant & radical
fundamentalism
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Narco-violence (Narco-states):
Guinea Bissau in West Africa
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Political Economy Indicators –
Africa’s abundant Strategic
Mineral Resources: 21 plus
Africa’s Collective GDP in
2008 alone was US $1.6
Trillion (roughly equals Brazil
or Russia)
Projection of Africa’s
Collective GDP by 2012 is US
$2.6 Trillion –
10 of the World’s Top 20
Fastest Growing Economies
are in Africa: Emerging Lion
Economies
Resource Abundance
Estimated 60% of
Population in SSA live
on less than US $2 a
day
 Increasing Youth
Unemployment &
Joblessness (49.6%) –
60% of Africa 1 Billion
Population Comprise
Youth
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Depressing Social &
Development Indicators
Face of ‘Security’ in Africa Today?
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Link between:
Military
Security
Threats
Freedom
From WANT
Security
Challenges
in Africa
Nonmilitary
Security
Threats
Freedom
From FEAR
Oil
Stability at All Cost
Israel’s
National
Security
Support for
Dictatorship
War on
Terror
Policy Considerations:
 Recognition by Military & Security Agencies of
Inextricable LINK between Military Security Threats &
Non-military Sources of Threat to Security
 National / Regional Security Doctrine & Practice focus
on LINK between Military Security Threats & Nonmilitary Sources of Security
 Requires Paradigm Shift in Training & Education of
National & Regional Military & Security Agencies in
Peacetime Democratic Africa
 Recognition that long-term National & Regional
Peace & Security cannot be achieved & maintained
through the barrel of the gun