International and National Security

Introduction

Security concerns protection from threats, risks and vulnerabilities. In International Relations, security traditionally focused on protecting the state from military threats, but the concept has expanded to include economic, environmental, cyber, health and human dimensions.

National security primarily concerns the protection of a state, its population, territory, institutions and vital interests. International security concerns security relationships and threats that cross national borders or affect the international system.

Security

Security: Condition in which an actor is protected against significant threats or has sufficient capacity to manage them.

Threat: An actor, action or development capable of causing harm.

Risk: Possibility that a harmful event may occur.

Vulnerability: Susceptibility to harm due to weaknesses or exposure.

Resilience: Capacity to absorb disruption, adapt and recover.

National Security

National Security: Protection of a state’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, population, institutions and vital national interests.

National security may include:

• Territorial defence
• Political stability
• Economic security
• Energy security
• Cybersecurity
• Food security
• Public health
• Critical infrastructure
• Strategic resources

Traditional Security

Traditional Security: Security approach emphasizing military threats, territorial defence and state survival.

Military Security: Protection against military attack or coercion.

Territorial Security: Protection of national territory and borders.

Strategic Security: Protection of vital national interests against major strategic threats.

Non-Traditional Security

Non-Traditional Security: Security concerns extending beyond conventional military threats.

Examples include:

• Climate change
• Pandemics
• Cyber threats
• Terrorism
• Organized crime
• Food insecurity
• Water insecurity
• Energy insecurity
• Forced displacement

International Security

International Security: Security relationships and conditions involving multiple states and the wider international system.

International Security System: Institutions, alliances, norms and strategic relationships through which states manage security challenges.

Security Architecture: Network of institutions, alliances, agreements and arrangements designed to manage security in a region or internationally.

State Security

State Security: Protection of the state and its political institutions, territory and sovereignty.

Regime Security: Protection of a particular governing regime from threats to its continuation.

These concepts should not automatically be treated as identical. A government may define regime security in ways that differ from broader national or human security concerns.

National Interest and Security

Vital National Interest: An interest considered essential to a state’s survival or fundamental objectives.

Strategic Interest: An interest considered important to long-term national objectives.

National Security Strategy: Government framework identifying major security interests, threats, capabilities and policy priorities.

Defence Policy: Government policy concerning military capabilities, defence planning and the use or non-use of armed force.

Security Threats

External Threat: Threat originating outside the state.

Internal Threat: Threat arising primarily within a state.

Transnational Threat: Threat that crosses borders or cannot be effectively addressed by one state alone.

Asymmetric Threat: Threat posed by an actor using methods or capabilities that exploit vulnerabilities rather than matching an opponent conventionally.

Hybrid Threat: Combination of military and non-military methods designed to exploit political, economic, informational or social vulnerabilities.

Collective Security

Collective Security: Arrangement in which states agree that threats to peace or security should be addressed collectively.

Collective Defence: Arrangement in which members commit to defend one another against specified external threats.

Alliance: Formal or informal security relationship among states involving commitments or coordination.

Security Dilemma

Security Dilemma: Situation in which one state’s efforts to increase its security are perceived as threatening by another state, prompting countermeasures.

Security dilemmas can contribute to:

• Arms competition
• Mutual suspicion
• Military buildups
• Crisis instability

Security Cooperation

Security Cooperation: Joint efforts by states or other actors to manage security challenges.

Confidence-Building Measures: Measures intended to reduce misunderstanding, uncertainty or accidental escalation.

Arms Control: Agreements or policies regulating weapons, military capabilities or military activities.

Disarmament: Reduction or elimination of weapons or military capabilities.

Human Security

Human Security: Security approach emphasizing protection of individuals and communities from serious threats to their survival, livelihood and dignity.

Its commonly discussed dimensions include:

• Economic security
• Food security
• Health security
• Environmental security
• Personal security
• Community security
• Political security

Cyber and Technological Security

Cybersecurity: Protection of information systems, networks and digital infrastructure from disruption, unauthorized access and other cyber threats.

Cyber Warfare: Use of cyber capabilities in armed conflict or strategic competition.

Technology Security: Protection of strategically important technologies and technological capabilities.

Key Distinctions

National Security vs International Security: National security focuses primarily on a state’s security; international security addresses security relationships and conditions across states and the international system.

Threat vs Risk: A threat is a potential source of harm; risk concerns the likelihood and consequences associated with that harm.

Traditional vs Non-Traditional Security: Traditional security emphasizes military and state-centred threats; non-traditional security includes broader transnational and societal threats.

National Security vs Human Security: National security primarily focuses on the state and its vital interests; human security focuses more directly on individuals and communities.

Collective Security vs Collective Defence: Collective security addresses threats to peace collectively; collective defence focuses on members defending one another against specified external threats.

Key Terms at a Glance

Security | Threat | Risk | Vulnerability | Resilience | National Security | International Security | Traditional Security | Military Security | Territorial Security | Non-Traditional Security | Security Architecture | State Security | Regime Security | Vital National Interest | National Security Strategy | Defence Policy | Transnational Threat | Asymmetric Threat | Hybrid Threat | Collective Security | Collective Defence | Alliance | Security Cooperation | Confidence-Building Measures | Arms Control | Disarmament | Human Security | Cybersecurity

Related Glossaries

Human Security | Security Dilemma | Deterrence | Collective Security | Hybrid Warfare | Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare | Nuclear Politics