POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics

1. POLS 374 Foundations of Global Politics Globalization and (In)Security November 21, 2006

2. Globalization and (In)Security • Question • Why, on January 29, 2002, did Iraq suddenly become the preeminent threat to American security? • Why January 29, 2002? Because that is when Bush made his famous “Axis of Evil”speech

3. Globalization and (In)Security • Main Point • Danger is not entirely or even primarily an objective condition • Put another way, danger is an effect of interpretation

4. Globalization and (In)Security (Facetious) illustration of how dangers or threats can be constructed

5. Globalization and (In)Security • An Objection? • Aren’t some things real, objective, clear-cut, unequivocal dangers? • After all, terrorists did fly planes into the WTC and Pentagon. Thousands of Americans really did die

6. Globalization and (In)Security • The Response • No matter what the objective conditions, danger is always an effect of interpretation • However, it is perhaps more accurate to say that danger is an effect of interpretation combined with material conditions

7. 43,200

8. Globalization and (In)Security • An objective danger … or not? • In 2005, 43,200 Americans died violent, unexpected, and largely preventable deaths in traffic accidents

9. Globalization and (In)Security • An objective danger? • Even more, 16,972 of these deaths were the product of people under the influence of highly addictive drugs … alcohol

10. Globalization and (In)Security • An objective danger? • The federal government still considers marijuana to be a dangerous drug and one that is a “threat” to the United States • For an example, see the report, the National Drug Assessment Threat 2007 prepared by the National Drug Intelligence Center

11. Globalization and (In)Security • Consider some other examples … • Recent events have told us that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons; at the very least, it is widely understood that North Korea has the capacity, at some point, to develop a nuclear arsenal • Why does this make North Korea a danger or a threat to American national security?

12. Globalization and (In)Security

13. Globalization and (In)Security • Another Key Point • Interpretations of danger are not necessarily directed toward repelling some objective, external threat, but are often directed inward, toward the constitution of a particular identity

14. Globalization and (In)Security • In other words … • The concept of security/insecurity has played a major role in preserving the centrality and sanctity of the Westphalian state system • This is because states are supposedly the only actors capable of providing “security” in an inherently “dangerous world”

15. Globalization and (In)Security • Globalization, Identity, and Security • Globalization is making it more and more difficult for states to define security in “traditional” ways • This means that the concept of identity is likely to undergo significant changes as globalization continues to unfold • In sum, globalization is reshaping our understanding of identity and security since both are mutually constitutive concepts

16. Globalization and (In)Security • Contemporary Globalization and Multiple Issues of Human Security • PEACE • CRIME (click here for a discussion; click here for an additional perspective) • ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY (example one, example two) • HEALTH (example one) • POVERTY • FINANCIAL STABILITY • EMPLOYMENT • WORKING CONDITIONS • IDENTITY • KNOWLEDGE • SOCIAL COHESION