Understanding Conflict, Security, and Cooperation: Approaches and Types of Force
This overview explores the critical interplay between conflict, security, and cooperation among states. It examines various types of military force, including conventional and unconventional approaches, as well as special operations, terrorism, and piracy. We also discuss the evolution of conflict, the changes in international security approaches over time, and the importance of cooperation for state security, from unilateral self-defense to multilateral agreements. This intricate landscape highlights the challenges and strategies nations face in ensuring security and stability.
Understanding Conflict, Security, and Cooperation: Approaches and Types of Force
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Presentation Transcript
Conflict, Security, & Cooperation • About C, S, & C • Types of Force • Conventional • Unconventional • Special operations • Terrorism • Piracy • Approaches to State Security • The cooperation continuum • Unilateral self-defense to pacifism
Military Spending 2011 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_military_expenditures
Conflict Changes over Time 4 Main Changes • Increase in arms transfers • Cold War and post-Cold War • UK weapons sales • Increase in severity of conflict • Technology • Increase in frequency of conflict • Decolonization • Civil unrest
Conflict Changes over Time 4 Main Changes • Change in focus of security • Guns and bombs • Guns kill far more people than bombs • Human security • For GN, much easier • In GS, a challenge
When you stop to get gas, are you likely to see this guy? Convenience store security guard, Guatemala
Conventional v. Unconventional Force Conventional: • Disputes between states • Can be declared wars or acts of aggression Unconventional: • Disputes provoked by non-state actors
Unconventional Force 3 Types of Unconventional Force • Special Operations • Terrorist Acts • Piracy
#1 Special Operations • Espionage • Spy games not new • Intelligence gathering • Overt v. covert force • Undermine government from within • Influence a country’s policies • Paramilitary training, troops • Monetary, technical, intelligence support
#2 Terrorist Acts: Domestic • What is terrorism? • Types of Terrorism • Domestic, International, State-Sponsored • Domestic • How do people challenge their government? • Coup d’état, assassinations, guerrilla fighting • Colombia’s National Liberation Army • Basque separatist group Eta • Why might domestic opposition be considered terrorism? • Freedom fighters • Syria’s rebel Free Syrian Army • Kurdish Worker’s Party (PKK) in Turkey
#2 Terrorist Acts: International International • Not a new phenomenon • Organize and/or attack across state borders • Al Qaeda • Taliban • Cold War v. post-Cold War • Linked to colonization, hijacks for political leverage • IRA v. UK; Algeria v. France • TWA Flight 847- Hezbollah • Cruise ship AchilleLauro-PLO • Target US and Western cultural influence • 9/11, Madrid, London, Bali
#2 Terrorist Acts: State-Sponsored State-Sponsored Terrorism • International terrorism • Syria and Iran Hezbollah, Hamas • Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia al-Qaeda • Libya Pan Am Flight 103
#3 Piracy • Difficult to police international waters • Not new phenomenon • Recently revived • Concern piracy will increase due to ‘Pirate Value Chain’ • More common near loosely-governed and failed states poor people • Nigeria • Somalia
Unilateral Self-Defense • Traditional approach to securing a state • Idea that states either defend or be overtaken • Self-defense through military spending • Self-defense v. acts of aggression
Limited Self Defense Can be bilateral or multilateral • During CW- often bilateral US & SU treaties • Multilateral often through UN Types of arms limitation pacts: • Conventional: Antipersonnel Mine Treaty • Nuclear: Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) • Chemical: Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) • Biological: Biological Weapons Convention (BWC)
International Security Forces Collective Security through IGOs: Regional IGOs • NATO in Afghanistan • ECOWAS in Ivory Coast • Arab League in Syria • Conflict spilled into neighboring Lebanon • Divided between pro- and anti-Syrian government supporters • Why intervene? • Economic, political, social interests
International Security Forces Collective Security through IGOs: Global IGOs • INTERPOL • UN • Peacekeeping • First used in 1948 in Kashmir and Palestine • 13 missions from 1948-1988 resulting from decolonization • Relied on non-UNSC member troops • Changed at end of CW • Considered ‘second-generation’ of peacekeeping • Includes UNSC member troops • Peacemaking • Combination of troops and civilian personnel • Monitors elections • Encourages peaceful negotiations • Food distribution • Peacebuilding
Abolition of War • Pacifism • War is morally wrong • Ranges from opposing all violence, to using violence as last resort • Bottom-up theory of peace • Passive non-violent resistance • Sit ins, protests, civil disobedience • Way to make a statement • Gandhi, MLK • George Clooney • Push for complete disarmament • Requires full cooperation • Realistic international security approach?
Conflict, Security, & Cooperation • About C, S, & C • Conventional & unconventional force • Approaches to state security range from unilateral to fully cooperative • States use regional & global IGOs
