Textbook: Changing Nature of the Concept of National Security | Defence Studies Class 10 (Maharashtra SSC Board) PDF Download

 Page 2


2
thinking was done on the concept of security. Some of the important contributions that were 
made, include the following: 
1. Willy Brandt’s report titled ‘North-South : A Programme for Survival’ and ‘Common 
Crisis : North South Cooperation for World Recovery’ :  These reports focused on the 
problem of development and how military resources can be used for development of 
the country. 
2. Olof Palme’s report titled ‘Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security 
Issues’: This report suggested the approach of ‘common security’. This meant that 
one country cannot become secure by making the other country insecure. They must 
search for common security.
What is a non-state actor?
A non-state actor is any organisation that is not a part of the Government. It works for 
a specific purpose for which it is created. Some of the important organisations work 
in the area of environment, health, women and child development etc. They are also 
referred to as Non-Governmental Organisations or Voluntary Organisations.
Willy Brandt was a German statesman and politician 
who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of 
Germany (West Germany) from 1969 to 1974. He was 
awarded the 'Nobel Peace Prize' in 1971 for his efforts to 
strengthen cooperation in Western Europe and to achieve 
reconciliation between West Germany and the countries 
of Eastern Europe. 
Olof Palme was the Prime Minister of Sweden who 
chaired the Independent Commission on Disarmament 
and Security in Geneva. He acted as UN special envoy 
to mediate in the war between Iran and Iraq.
Page 3


2
thinking was done on the concept of security. Some of the important contributions that were 
made, include the following: 
1. Willy Brandt’s report titled ‘North-South : A Programme for Survival’ and ‘Common 
Crisis : North South Cooperation for World Recovery’ :  These reports focused on the 
problem of development and how military resources can be used for development of 
the country. 
2. Olof Palme’s report titled ‘Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security 
Issues’: This report suggested the approach of ‘common security’. This meant that 
one country cannot become secure by making the other country insecure. They must 
search for common security.
What is a non-state actor?
A non-state actor is any organisation that is not a part of the Government. It works for 
a specific purpose for which it is created. Some of the important organisations work 
in the area of environment, health, women and child development etc. They are also 
referred to as Non-Governmental Organisations or Voluntary Organisations.
Willy Brandt was a German statesman and politician 
who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of 
Germany (West Germany) from 1969 to 1974. He was 
awarded the 'Nobel Peace Prize' in 1971 for his efforts to 
strengthen cooperation in Western Europe and to achieve 
reconciliation between West Germany and the countries 
of Eastern Europe. 
Olof Palme was the Prime Minister of Sweden who 
chaired the Independent Commission on Disarmament 
and Security in Geneva. He acted as UN special envoy 
to mediate in the war between Iran and Iraq.
3
    Comprehensive Security
 The age of globalisation that came in the 1990s saw a lot of changes taking place 
in the world. The world became interdependent in the area of economy and technology. 
Communication became faster and cheaper due to TV , mobile phones, internet etc. Non-state 
actors (or non-governmental organisations and voluntary organisations) became more active 
and relevant in day to day life.  
 It is in this context that the concepts of ‘Comprehensive Security’ and  
‘Human Security’ became important. These concepts link the security of the country to 
the security of the people and society. The main areas that are included in the concept of 
Comprehensive Security are :
 i. Environmental Security : The issues involved in the environmental sector  
include ecological problems like pollution, energy problems, population issues, food 
related problems, climate change, water resource management etc. 
 ii. Economic Security : This focuses on the problems of poverty, employment 
opportunities etc. 
 iii. Societal Security : The issues of migrations, social conflicts based on religion, 
ethnicity or caste are discussed here.
 iv. Political Security : Threats from the political conflicts based on ideology or religions, 
form part of this issue. 
     Human Security
 Today the term used is ‘Human Security’. The Human Development Report of the 
United Nations has brought in this new thought in the security issues. The 1994 Human 
Development Report (HDR) highlighted two major components of human security that were 
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: ‘Freedom from fear’ and ‘Freedom from 
want’. The 1994 Report introduced the concept of human security, which equates security 
with people rather than territories and with development rather than weapons. It examines 
both the national and the global concerns of human security. The 1994 HDR was even more 
specific, listing seven essential dimensions of human security :  
 i. Economic security : People must have an assured basic income.
 ii. Food security : All people must get and afford to have basic food.
 iii. Health security : Threat to health security is usually greatest for poor people and 
those living in rural areas. People must have access to health services. 
 iv. Environmental security : Intensive industrialisation and population growth have 
put a lot of strain on environment. It is necessary to protect the ecosystem.
Page 4


2
thinking was done on the concept of security. Some of the important contributions that were 
made, include the following: 
1. Willy Brandt’s report titled ‘North-South : A Programme for Survival’ and ‘Common 
Crisis : North South Cooperation for World Recovery’ :  These reports focused on the 
problem of development and how military resources can be used for development of 
the country. 
2. Olof Palme’s report titled ‘Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security 
Issues’: This report suggested the approach of ‘common security’. This meant that 
one country cannot become secure by making the other country insecure. They must 
search for common security.
What is a non-state actor?
A non-state actor is any organisation that is not a part of the Government. It works for 
a specific purpose for which it is created. Some of the important organisations work 
in the area of environment, health, women and child development etc. They are also 
referred to as Non-Governmental Organisations or Voluntary Organisations.
Willy Brandt was a German statesman and politician 
who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of 
Germany (West Germany) from 1969 to 1974. He was 
awarded the 'Nobel Peace Prize' in 1971 for his efforts to 
strengthen cooperation in Western Europe and to achieve 
reconciliation between West Germany and the countries 
of Eastern Europe. 
Olof Palme was the Prime Minister of Sweden who 
chaired the Independent Commission on Disarmament 
and Security in Geneva. He acted as UN special envoy 
to mediate in the war between Iran and Iraq.
3
    Comprehensive Security
 The age of globalisation that came in the 1990s saw a lot of changes taking place 
in the world. The world became interdependent in the area of economy and technology. 
Communication became faster and cheaper due to TV , mobile phones, internet etc. Non-state 
actors (or non-governmental organisations and voluntary organisations) became more active 
and relevant in day to day life.  
 It is in this context that the concepts of ‘Comprehensive Security’ and  
‘Human Security’ became important. These concepts link the security of the country to 
the security of the people and society. The main areas that are included in the concept of 
Comprehensive Security are :
 i. Environmental Security : The issues involved in the environmental sector  
include ecological problems like pollution, energy problems, population issues, food 
related problems, climate change, water resource management etc. 
 ii. Economic Security : This focuses on the problems of poverty, employment 
opportunities etc. 
 iii. Societal Security : The issues of migrations, social conflicts based on religion, 
ethnicity or caste are discussed here.
 iv. Political Security : Threats from the political conflicts based on ideology or religions, 
form part of this issue. 
     Human Security
 Today the term used is ‘Human Security’. The Human Development Report of the 
United Nations has brought in this new thought in the security issues. The 1994 Human 
Development Report (HDR) highlighted two major components of human security that were 
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: ‘Freedom from fear’ and ‘Freedom from 
want’. The 1994 Report introduced the concept of human security, which equates security 
with people rather than territories and with development rather than weapons. It examines 
both the national and the global concerns of human security. The 1994 HDR was even more 
specific, listing seven essential dimensions of human security :  
 i. Economic security : People must have an assured basic income.
 ii. Food security : All people must get and afford to have basic food.
 iii. Health security : Threat to health security is usually greatest for poor people and 
those living in rural areas. People must have access to health services. 
 iv. Environmental security : Intensive industrialisation and population growth have 
put a lot of strain on environment. It is necessary to protect the ecosystem.
4
1. Find out an NGO in your locality. Find out what work it does. Discuss it in the classroom 
and write a note on it. (Students can write about different NGOs)
 v. Personal security : Threats can be of many kinds like torture, war, crime, domestic 
violence, rape, child abuse etc. People must feel secure and protected from all kinds 
of violence.
 vi. Community security : People get security by being in a family, community, caste or 
ethnic group etc. Such groups offer practical support.
 vii. Political security : People should be able to live in a society that will honour their 
basic human rights.
 The focus of the concept of human security is thus on the people. It focuses on 
humanitarian values, on the dignity of the individual, on concepts such as social justice, 
freedom and equality. Human security is not  concerned with weapons; it is  concerned with 
human life and dignity
Human Development Index
Mahbub ul Haq first drew global attention to the concept of human security in his 
Human Development Report, submitted in the 1994 United Nation's Development 
Programme. Haq devised the Human Development Index along with Amartya Sen 
which has become one of the most influential and widely used indices to measure 
human development across countries. The HDI has been used since 1990 by the United 
Nations Development Programme for its annual Human Development Reports.
Activities
Page 5


2
thinking was done on the concept of security. Some of the important contributions that were 
made, include the following: 
1. Willy Brandt’s report titled ‘North-South : A Programme for Survival’ and ‘Common 
Crisis : North South Cooperation for World Recovery’ :  These reports focused on the 
problem of development and how military resources can be used for development of 
the country. 
2. Olof Palme’s report titled ‘Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security 
Issues’: This report suggested the approach of ‘common security’. This meant that 
one country cannot become secure by making the other country insecure. They must 
search for common security.
What is a non-state actor?
A non-state actor is any organisation that is not a part of the Government. It works for 
a specific purpose for which it is created. Some of the important organisations work 
in the area of environment, health, women and child development etc. They are also 
referred to as Non-Governmental Organisations or Voluntary Organisations.
Willy Brandt was a German statesman and politician 
who served as Chancellor of the Federal Republic of 
Germany (West Germany) from 1969 to 1974. He was 
awarded the 'Nobel Peace Prize' in 1971 for his efforts to 
strengthen cooperation in Western Europe and to achieve 
reconciliation between West Germany and the countries 
of Eastern Europe. 
Olof Palme was the Prime Minister of Sweden who 
chaired the Independent Commission on Disarmament 
and Security in Geneva. He acted as UN special envoy 
to mediate in the war between Iran and Iraq.
3
    Comprehensive Security
 The age of globalisation that came in the 1990s saw a lot of changes taking place 
in the world. The world became interdependent in the area of economy and technology. 
Communication became faster and cheaper due to TV , mobile phones, internet etc. Non-state 
actors (or non-governmental organisations and voluntary organisations) became more active 
and relevant in day to day life.  
 It is in this context that the concepts of ‘Comprehensive Security’ and  
‘Human Security’ became important. These concepts link the security of the country to 
the security of the people and society. The main areas that are included in the concept of 
Comprehensive Security are :
 i. Environmental Security : The issues involved in the environmental sector  
include ecological problems like pollution, energy problems, population issues, food 
related problems, climate change, water resource management etc. 
 ii. Economic Security : This focuses on the problems of poverty, employment 
opportunities etc. 
 iii. Societal Security : The issues of migrations, social conflicts based on religion, 
ethnicity or caste are discussed here.
 iv. Political Security : Threats from the political conflicts based on ideology or religions, 
form part of this issue. 
     Human Security
 Today the term used is ‘Human Security’. The Human Development Report of the 
United Nations has brought in this new thought in the security issues. The 1994 Human 
Development Report (HDR) highlighted two major components of human security that were 
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: ‘Freedom from fear’ and ‘Freedom from 
want’. The 1994 Report introduced the concept of human security, which equates security 
with people rather than territories and with development rather than weapons. It examines 
both the national and the global concerns of human security. The 1994 HDR was even more 
specific, listing seven essential dimensions of human security :  
 i. Economic security : People must have an assured basic income.
 ii. Food security : All people must get and afford to have basic food.
 iii. Health security : Threat to health security is usually greatest for poor people and 
those living in rural areas. People must have access to health services. 
 iv. Environmental security : Intensive industrialisation and population growth have 
put a lot of strain on environment. It is necessary to protect the ecosystem.
4
1. Find out an NGO in your locality. Find out what work it does. Discuss it in the classroom 
and write a note on it. (Students can write about different NGOs)
 v. Personal security : Threats can be of many kinds like torture, war, crime, domestic 
violence, rape, child abuse etc. People must feel secure and protected from all kinds 
of violence.
 vi. Community security : People get security by being in a family, community, caste or 
ethnic group etc. Such groups offer practical support.
 vii. Political security : People should be able to live in a society that will honour their 
basic human rights.
 The focus of the concept of human security is thus on the people. It focuses on 
humanitarian values, on the dignity of the individual, on concepts such as social justice, 
freedom and equality. Human security is not  concerned with weapons; it is  concerned with 
human life and dignity
Human Development Index
Mahbub ul Haq first drew global attention to the concept of human security in his 
Human Development Report, submitted in the 1994 United Nation's Development 
Programme. Haq devised the Human Development Index along with Amartya Sen 
which has become one of the most influential and widely used indices to measure 
human development across countries. The HDI has been used since 1990 by the United 
Nations Development Programme for its annual Human Development Reports.
Activities
5
2.  Meet a political or a social leader or a government official. Find out his/her thoughts on 
the social or political or environmental problems faced by India. Discuss the same in the 
classroom and write your views on how to solve the problems mentioned by the person.