PPT: Security in the Contemporary World | Political Science Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


Security in 
Contemporary World
Page 2


Security in 
Contemporary World
Overview
1
We frequently encounter the 
terms 'security' or 'national 
security' in world politics.
2
These terms are often used to 
stop debate and discussion, 
implying issues are too 
important or secret.
3
In a democracy, citizens need 
to know more about security.
4
This presentation debates what security means 
and India's security concerns.
5
It introduces two different ways of looking at 
security and highlights the importance of 
context.
Page 3


Security in 
Contemporary World
Overview
1
We frequently encounter the 
terms 'security' or 'national 
security' in world politics.
2
These terms are often used to 
stop debate and discussion, 
implying issues are too 
important or secret.
3
In a democracy, citizens need 
to know more about security.
4
This presentation debates what security means 
and India's security concerns.
5
It introduces two different ways of looking at 
security and highlights the importance of 
context.
What is security?
Basic Definition
At its most basic, security implies 
freedom from threats. Human 
existence and the life of a country 
are full of threats.
Core Values
Those who study security 
generally say that only those 
things that threaten 'core values' 
should be regarded as being of 
interest in discussions of security.
Intensity of Threats
Security relates only to extremely 
dangerous threats4 threats that 
could so endanger core values 
that those values would be 
damaged beyond repair if we did 
not do something to deal with the 
situation.
Page 4


Security in 
Contemporary World
Overview
1
We frequently encounter the 
terms 'security' or 'national 
security' in world politics.
2
These terms are often used to 
stop debate and discussion, 
implying issues are too 
important or secret.
3
In a democracy, citizens need 
to know more about security.
4
This presentation debates what security means 
and India's security concerns.
5
It introduces two different ways of looking at 
security and highlights the importance of 
context.
What is security?
Basic Definition
At its most basic, security implies 
freedom from threats. Human 
existence and the life of a country 
are full of threats.
Core Values
Those who study security 
generally say that only those 
things that threaten 'core values' 
should be regarded as being of 
interest in discussions of security.
Intensity of Threats
Security relates only to extremely 
dangerous threats4 threats that 
could so endanger core values 
that those values would be 
damaged beyond repair if we did 
not do something to deal with the 
situation.
Traditional Notions: External
1
Military Threats
Greatest danger from other countries
2
Deterrence
Preventing war
3
Defence
Limiting or ending war
4
Balance of Power
Maintaining favorable power balance
5
Alliance Building
Coordinating actions with other states
In the traditional conception of security, the greatest danger to a country is from military threats. The source of this 
danger is another country which by threatening military action endangers the core values of sovereignty, 
independence and territorial integrity.
Page 5


Security in 
Contemporary World
Overview
1
We frequently encounter the 
terms 'security' or 'national 
security' in world politics.
2
These terms are often used to 
stop debate and discussion, 
implying issues are too 
important or secret.
3
In a democracy, citizens need 
to know more about security.
4
This presentation debates what security means 
and India's security concerns.
5
It introduces two different ways of looking at 
security and highlights the importance of 
context.
What is security?
Basic Definition
At its most basic, security implies 
freedom from threats. Human 
existence and the life of a country 
are full of threats.
Core Values
Those who study security 
generally say that only those 
things that threaten 'core values' 
should be regarded as being of 
interest in discussions of security.
Intensity of Threats
Security relates only to extremely 
dangerous threats4 threats that 
could so endanger core values 
that those values would be 
damaged beyond repair if we did 
not do something to deal with the 
situation.
Traditional Notions: External
1
Military Threats
Greatest danger from other countries
2
Deterrence
Preventing war
3
Defence
Limiting or ending war
4
Balance of Power
Maintaining favorable power balance
5
Alliance Building
Coordinating actions with other states
In the traditional conception of security, the greatest danger to a country is from military threats. The source of this 
danger is another country which by threatening military action endangers the core values of sovereignty, 
independence and territorial integrity.
Traditional Notions: 
Internal
1
Internal Peace and Order
Security depends on internal stability
2
Post-WWII Context
Internal security seemed assured for powerful countries
3
Cold War Focus
Emphasis on external threats between alliances
4
Colonial Concerns
European powers worried about violence in colonies
Traditional security must also concern itself with internal security. The 
reason it is not given so much importance is that after the Second World 
War it seemed that, for the most powerful countries on earth, internal 
security was more or less assured.