Definitions: National Security, or National Defence, Is The
Definitions: National Security, or National Defence, Is The
its citizens, economy, and institutions, which is regarded as a duty of government. Originally
conceived as protection against military attack, national security is widely understood to include also
non-military dimensions, such as the security from terrorism, minimization of crime, economic
security, energy security, environmental security, food security, and cyber-security. Similarly,
national security risks include, in addition to the actions of other nation states, action by violent non-
state actors, by narcotic cartels, organized crime, by multinational corporations, and also the effects
of natural disasters.
Governments rely on a range of measures, including political, economic, and military power, as well
as diplomacy, to safeguard the security of a nation state. They may also act to build the conditions of
security regionally and internationally by reducing transnational causes of insecurity, such as climate
change, economic inequality, political exclusion, and nuclear proliferation.
Definitions[edit]
The concept of national security remains ambiguous, having evolved from simpler definitions which
emphasised freedom from military threat and from political coercion.[1]: 1–6 [2]: 52–54 Among the many
definitions proposed to date are the following, which show how the concept has evolved to
encompass non-military concerns:
"A nation has security when it does not have to sacrifice its legitimate interests to avoid war, and
is able, if challenged, to maintain them by war." (Walter Lippmann, 1943).[3]: 5
"The distinctive meaning of national security means freedom from foreign dictation." (Harold
Lasswell, 1950)[3]: 79
"National security objectively means the absence of threats to acquired values and subjectively,
the absence of fear that such values will be attacked." (Arnold Wolfers, 1960)[4]
"National security then is the ability to preserve the nation's physical integrity and territory; to
maintain its economic relations with the rest of the world on reasonable terms; to preserve its
nature, institution, and governance from disruption from outside; and to control its borders."
(Harold Brown, U.S. Secretary of Defense, 1977–1981)[5]
"National security... is best described as a capacity to control those domestic and foreign
conditions that the public opinion of a given community believes necessary to enjoy its own self-
determination or autonomy, prosperity, and wellbeing." (Charles Maier, 1990)[6]
"National security is an appropriate and aggressive blend of political resilience and maturity,
human resources, economic structure and capacity, technological competence, industrial base
and availability of natural resources and finally the military might." (National Defence College of
India, 1996)[7]
"[National security is the] measurable state of the capability of a nation to overcome the multi-
dimensional threats to the apparent well-being of its people and its survival as a nation-state at
any given time, by balancing all instruments of state policy through governance... and is
extendable to global security by variables external to it." (Prabhakaran Paleri, 2008)[2]: 52–54
"[National and international security] may be understood as shared freedom from fear and want,
and the freedom to live in dignity. It implies social and ecological health rather than the absence
of risk... [and is] a common right." (Ammerdown Group, 2016)[8]: 3
Dimensions[edit]
Potential causes of national insecurity include actions by other states (e.g. military or cyber
attack), violent non-state actors (e.g. terrorist attack), organised criminal groups such as narcotic
cartels, and also the effects of natural disasters (e.g. flooding, earthquakes).[3]: v, 1–8 [8][9] Systemic drivers
of insecurity, which may be transnational, include climate change, economic
inequality and marginalisation, political exclusion, and nuclear proliferation.[8][9]
In view of the wide range of risks, the security of a nation state has several dimensions,
including economic security, energy security, physical security, environmental security, food
security, border security, and cyber security. These dimensions correlate closely with elements of
national power.
Increasingly, governments organise their security policies into a national security strategy (NSS);
[10]
as of 2017, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States are among the states to
have done so.[11][12][13][14] Some states also appoint a National Security Council and/or a National
Security Advisor which is an executive government agency, it feeds the head of the state on topics
concerning national security and strategic interest. The national security council/advisor strategies
long term, short term, contingency national security plans. India holds one such system in current,
which was established on 19 November 1998.
Although states differ in their approach, with some beginning to prioritise non-military action to tackle
systemic drivers of insecurity, various forms of coercive power predominate, particularly Military
Capabilities.[8] The scope of these capabilities has developed. Traditionally, military capabilities were
mainly land- or sea-based, and in smaller countries, they still are. Elsewhere, the domains of
potential warfare now include the air, space, cyberspace, and psychological operations.[15] Military
capabilities designed for these domains may be used for national security, or equally for offensive
purposes, for example to conquer and annex territory and resources.
See also: Elements of national security and Elements of national power
Physical[edit]
Main article: Military security
In practice, national security is associated primarily with managing physical threats and with
the military capabilities used for doing so.[11][13][14] That is, national security is often understood as the
capacity of a nation to mobilise military forces to guarantee its borders and to deter or successfully
defend against physical threats including military aggression and attacks by non-state actors, such
as terrorism. Most states, such as South Africa and Sweden,[16][12] configure their military forces
mainly for territorial defence; others, such as France, Russia, the UK and the US, [17][18][13][14] invest in
higher-cost expeditionary capabilities, which allow their armed forces to project power and
sustain military operations abroad.
See also: Terrorism, Border guard, and Military aggression
Infrastructural[edit]
Main article: Critical infrastructure
Terrorism: person or groups deliberately targeting critical infrastructure for political gain. In
the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Mumbai central station and hospital were deliberately
targeted.
Sabotage: person or groups such as ex-employees, anti-government groups, environmental
groups. Refer to Bangkok's International Airport Seized by Protestors.
Information warfare: private person hacking for private gain or countries initiating attacks to
glean information and damage a country's cyberinfrastructure. Cyberattacks on
Estonia and cyberattacks during the 2008 South Ossetia war are examples.
Natural disaster: hurricane or other natural events that damage critical infrastructures such as oil
pipelines, water, and power grids. See Hurricane Ike and Economic effects of Hurricane
Katrina for examples.
Virtual[edit]
Main article: Computer security
Computer security, also known as cybersecurity or IT security, refers to the security of computing
devices such as computers and smartphones, as well as computer networks such as private and
public networks, and the Internet. It concerns the protection of hardware, software, data, people, and
also the procedures by which systems are accessed, and the field has growing importance due to
the increasing reliance on computer systems in most societies.[21] Since unauthorized access to
critical civil and military infrastructure is now considered a major threat, cyberspace is now
recognised as a domain of warfare. One such example is the use of Stuxnet by the US and Israel
against the Iranian nuclear programme[15]
Political[edit]
Main article: Political security
Barry Buzan, Ole Wæver, Jaap de Wilde and others have argued that national security depends
on political security: the stability of the social order.[22] Others, such as Paul Rogers, have added that
the equitability of the international order is equally vital.[9] Hence, political security depends on the
rule of international law (including the laws of war), the effectiveness of international political
institutions, as well as diplomacy and negotiation between nations and other security actors.[22] It also
depends on, among other factors, effective political inclusion of disaffected groups and the human
security of the citizenry.[9][8][23]
Economic[edit]
Main article: Economic security
Economic security, in the context of international relations, is the ability of a nation state to maintain
and develop the national economy, without which other dimensions of national security cannot be
managed. Economic capability largely determines the defence capability of a nation, and thus a
sound economic security directly influences the national security of a nation. That is why we see
countries with sound economy, happen to have sound security setup too, such as The United
States, China, India among others. In larger countries, strategies for economic security expect to
access resources and markets in other countries and to protect their own markets at
home. Developing countries may be less secure than economically advanced states due to high
rates of unemployment and underpaid work.[citation needed]
Environmental[edit]
Main article: Environmental security
Environmental security, also known as ecological security, refers to the integrity of ecosystems and
the biosphere, particularly in relation to their capacity to sustain a diversity of life-forms (including
human life). The security of ecosystems has attracted greater attention as the impact of ecological
damage by humans has grown.[24] The degradation of ecosystems, including topsoil
erosion, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change, affect economic security and can
precipitate mass migration, leading to increased pressure on resources elsewhere. Ecological
security is also important since most of the countries in the world are developing and dependent
on agriculture and agriculture gets affected largely due to climate change. This effect affects the
economy of the nation, which in turn affects national security.
The scope and nature of environmental threats to national security and strategies to engage them
are a subject of debate.[3]: 29–33 Romm (1993) classifies the major impacts of ecological changes on
national security as:[3]: 15
Issues[edit]
Consistency of approach[edit]
The dimensions of national security outlined above are frequently in tension with one another. For
example:
The high cost of maintaining large military forces can place a burden on the economic security of
a nation And annual defence spending as per cent of GDP varies significantly by country.
[32]
Conversely, economic constraints can limit the scale of expenditure on military capabilities.
Unilateral security action by states can undermine political security at an international level if it
erodes the rule of law and undermines the authority of international institutions. The invasion of
Iraq in 2003 and the annexation of Crimea in 2014 have been cited as examples.[33][34]
The pursuit of economic security in competition with other nation states can undermine the
ecological security of all when the impact includes widespread topsoil erosion, biodiversity loss,
and climate change.[35] Conversely, expenditure on mitigating or adapting to ecological change
places a burden on the national economy.
If tensions such as these are mismanaged, national security policies and actions may be ineffective
or counterproductive.
By region[edit]
Argentina and Brazil[edit]
National security ideology as taught by the US Army School of the Americas to military personnel
was vital in causing the military coup of 1964 in Brazil and the 1976 one in Argentina. The military
dictatorships were installed on the claim by the military that Leftists were an existential threat to the
national interests.[41]
China[edit]
Main article: National security of China
China's Armed Forces are known as the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The military is the largest
in the world, with 2.3 million active troops in 2005.
The Ministry of State Security was established in 1983 to ensure "the security of the state through
effective measures against enemy agents, spies, and counterrevolutionary activities designed to
sabotage or overthrow China's socialist system."[42]
India[edit]
This section needs expansion.
You can help by adding to
it. (October 2019)
Main articles: National Security Council (India), National Security Strategy (India), Terrorism in
India, and Illegal immigration to India
The state of the Republic of India's national security is determined by its internal stability and
geopolitical interests. While Islamic upsurge in Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir demanding
secession and far left-wing terrorism in India's red corridor remain some key issues in India's internal
security, terrorism from Pakistan-based militant groups has been emerging as a major concern for
New Delhi.
The National Security Advisor of India heads the National Security Council of India, receives all
kinds of intelligence reports, and is chief advisor to the Prime Minister of India over national and
international security policy. The National Security Council has
India's defence, foreign, home, finance ministers and deputy chairman of NITI Aayog as its members
and is responsible for shaping strategies for India's security in all aspects.[43]
Illegal immigration to India, most of whom are Muslims from Bangladesh and Myanmar
(Rohingya Muslims) are a national security risk. There is an organised influx of nearly 40,000 illegal
Bangladeshi and Rohingya Muslim immigrants in Delhi who pose a national security risk, threaten
the national integration, and alter the demographics. A lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay filed a Public
interest litigation (PIL) in the "Supreme Court of India" (SC) to identify and deport these. Responding
to this PIL, Delhi Police told the SC in July 2019 that nearly 500 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants have
been deported in the preceding 28 months.[44] There are estimated 600,000 to 700,000 illegal
Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in National Capital Region (NCR) region specially in the
districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, and Nuh (Mewat region), as well as interior villages
of Bhiwani and Hisar. Most of them are Muslims who have acquired fake Hindu identity, and under
questioning, they pretend to be from West Bengal. In September 2019, the Chief Minister of
Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar announced the implementation of NRC for Haryana by setting up a
legal framework under the former judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Justice HS Bhalla for
updating NRC which will help in weeding out these illegal immigrants.[45]
Russia[edit]
In the years 1997 and 2000, Russia adopted documents titled "National Security Concept" that
described Russia's global position, the country's interests, listed threats to national security, and
described the means to counter those threats. In 2009, these documents were superseded by the
"National Security Strategy to 2020". The key body responsible for coordinating policies related to
Russia's national security is the Security Council of Russia.
According to provision 6 of the National Security Strategy to 2020, national security is "the situation
in which the individual, the society and the state enjoy protection from foreign and domestic threats
to the degree that ensures constitutional rights and freedoms, decent quality of life for citizens, as
well as sovereignty, territorial integrity and stable development of the Russian Federation, the
defence and security of the state."
Singapore[edit]
Main article: Total Defence (Singapore)
Total Defence is Singapore's whole-of-society national defence concept[46] based on the premise that
the strongest defence of a nation is collective defence[47] – when every aspect of society stays united
for the defence of the country.[48] Adopted from the national defence strategies of Sweden and
Switzerland,[49] Total Defence was introduced in Singapore in 1984. Then, it was recognised that
military threats to a nation can affect the psyche and social fabric of its people. [50] Therefore, the
defence and progress of Singapore are dependent on all of its citizens' resolve, along with the
government and armed forces.[51] Total Defence has since evolved to take into consideration threats
and challenges outside of the conventional military domain.
Ukraine[edit]
National security of Ukraine is defined in Ukrainian law as "a set of legislative and organisational
measures aimed at permanent protection of vital interests of man and citizen, society and the state,
which ensure sustainable development of society, timely detection, prevention and neutralisation of
real and potential threats to national interests in areas of law enforcement, fight against corruption,
border activities and defence, migration policy, health care, education and science, technology and
innovation policy, cultural development of the population, freedom of speech and information
security, social policy and pension provision, housing and communal services, financial services
market, protection of property rights, stock markets and circulation of securities, fiscal and customs
policy, trade and business, banking services, investment policy, auditing, monetary and exchange
rate policy, information security, licensing, industry and agriculture, transport and communications,
information technology, energy and energy saving, functioning of natural monopolies, use of subsoil,
land and water resources, minerals, protection of ecology and environment and other areas of public
administration, in the event of emergence of negative trends towards the creation of potential or real
threats to national interests."[52]
The primary body responsible for coordinating national security policy in Ukraine is the National
Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. It is an advisory state agency to the President of Ukraine,
tasked with developing a policy of national security on domestic and international matters. All
sessions of the council take place in the Presidential Administration Building. The council was
created by the provision of Supreme Council of Ukraine #1658-12 on October 11, 1991. It was
defined as the highest state body of collegiate governing on matters of defence and security of
Ukraine with the following goals:
Protecting sovereignty
Constitutional order
Territorial integrity and inviolability of the republic
Developing strategies and continuous improvement of policy in the sphere of defence and state
security
Comprehensive scientific assessment of the military threat nature
Determining position toward modern warfare
Effective control over the execution of the tasks of the state and its institutions keeping defence
capabilities of Ukraine at the level of defence sufficiency
United Kingdom[edit]
The primary body responsible for coordinating national security policy in the UK is the National
Security Council (United Kingdom) which helps produce and enact the UK's National Security
Strategy. It was created in May 2010 by the new coalition government of the Conservative Party
(UK) and Liberal Democrats. The National Security Council is a committee of the Cabinet of the
United Kingdom and was created as part of a wider reform of the national security apparatus. This
reform also included the creation of a National Security Adviser and a National Security
Secretariat to support the National Security Council.[53]
United States[edit]
Main article: National security of the United States
National Security Act of 1947[edit]
Main articles: National Security Act of 1947 and United States National Security Council
The concept of national security became an official guiding principle of foreign policy in the United
States when the National Security Act of 1947 was signed on July 26, 1947, by U.S. President Harry
S. Truman.[3]: 3 As amended in 1949, this Act:
In Gen. Maxwell Taylor's 1974 essay "The Legitimate Claims of National Security", Taylor
states:[56]
The national valuables in this broad sense include current assets and national interests, as well
as the sources of strength upon which our future as a nation depends. Some valuables are
tangible and earthy; others are spiritual or intellectual. They range widely from political assets
such as the Bill of Rights, our political institutions, and international friendships to many
economic assets which radiate worldwide from a highly productive domestic economy supported
by rich natural resources. It is the urgent need to protect valuables such as these which
legitimizes and makes essential the role of national security.
National security state[edit]
To reflect on the institutionalisation of new bureaucratic infrastructures and governmental
practices in the post-World War II period in the U.S., when a culture of semi-permanent military
mobilisation brought around the National Security Council, the CIA, the Department of Defense,
and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, national-security researchers apply a notion of a national security
state:[57][58][59]
During and after World War II, US leaders expanded the concept of national security and used
its terminology for the first time to explain America's relationship to the world. For most of US
history, the continental United States was secure. But by 1945, it had become rapidly vulnerable
with the advent of long-range bombers, atom bombs, and ballistic missiles. A general perception
grew that future mobilization would be insufficient and that preparation must be constant. For the
first time, American leaders dealt with the essential paradox of national security faced by the
Roman Empire and subsequent great powers: Si vis pacem, para bellum — If you want peace,
prepare for war.[60]
— David Jablonsky
Obama administration[edit]
The U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff defines national security of the United States in the following
manner :[61]
A collective term encompassing both national defense and foreign relations of the United States.
Specifically, the condition provided by: a. a military or defense advantage over any foreign
nation or group of nations; b. a favorable foreign relations position; or c. a defense posture
capable of successfully resisting hostile or destructive action from within or without, overt or
covert.
In 2010, the White House included an all-encompassing world-view in a national security
strategy which identified "security" as one of the country's "four enduring national interests" that
were "inexorably intertwined":[62]
"To achieve the world we seek, the United States must apply our strategic approach in pursuit of
four enduring national interests:
Security: The security of the United States, its citizens, and U.S. allies and partners.
Prosperity: A strong, innovative, and growing U.S. economy in an open international
economic system that promotes opportunity and prosperity.
Values: Respect for universal values at home and around the world.
International Order: An international order advanced by U.S. leadership that promotes
peace, security, and opportunity through stronger cooperation to meet global challenges.
Each of these interests is inextricably linked to the others: no single interest can be pursued in
isolation, but at the same time, positive action in one area will help advance all four."
— National Security Strategy, Executive Office of the President of the United States (May 2010)
Empowerment of women[edit]
Main article: Hillary Doctrine
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that, "The countries that threaten regional and
global peace are the very places where women and girls are deprived of dignity and
opportunity".[63] She has noted that countries, where women are oppressed, are places where the
"rule of law and democracy are struggling to take root",[63] and that, when women's rights as
equals in society are upheld, the society as a whole changes and improves, which in turn
enhances stability in that society, which in turn contributes to global society. [63]
Cyber[edit]
The Bush Administration in January 2008, initiated the Comprehensive National Cybersecurity
Initiative (CNCI). It introduced a differentiated approach, such as identifying existing and
emerging cybersecurity threats, finding and plugging existing cyber vulnerabilities and
apprehending those trying to access federal information systems.[64]
President Obama said the "cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national
security challenges we face as a nation" and that "America's economic prosperity in the 21st
century will depend on cybersecurity".[65]