Great Powers and Superpowers 1. Introduction Great powers and superpowers occupy central positions in the international system because their economic, military, technological and diplomatic capabilities allow them to influence international affairs beyond their immediate regions. The concepts are related but not identical. A great power possesses capabilities that allow it to exercise substantial influence over…
Power Transition and Global Order 1. Introduction Power Transition Theory examines how changes in the relative power of major states can affect international order and the possibility of conflict. International systems are not static. States rise and decline, economic capabilities shift, technologies change and new powers emerge. When a rising state approaches the capabilities of…
Traditional Security 1. Introduction Traditional security refers to the conventional understanding of security in which the state is the primary object of protection and military threats are regarded as the principal sources of insecurity. For much of modern international relations, security was understood primarily in terms of territorial integrity, political independence, military capability, and survival…
Proxy War and Asymmetric Warfare Introduction Proxy war and asymmetric warfare are important concepts in contemporary international security. Both involve situations in which conventional military capabilities, political objectives and methods of warfare differ significantly among the participants. A proxy war occurs when an external state or other powerful actor supports a local or regional actor…
Insurgency, Counterinsurgency and Terrorism Introduction Insurgency, counterinsurgency and terrorism are related but distinct concepts within conflict and security studies. An insurgency is an organized campaign challenging established political authority. Counterinsurgency refers to the political, military, economic and social efforts undertaken to defeat or contain an insurgency. Terrorism is a method of political violence involving the…
Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Introduction Conflict prevention, conflict management and conflict resolution describe different approaches to dealing with disputes and violent conflicts. Conflict prevention seeks to prevent violence from occurring or escalating. Conflict management seeks to limit violence and control its consequences. Conflict resolution seeks to address underlying causes and relationships in ways that…
Peacekeeping, Peacemaking and Peacebuilding Introduction Peacekeeping, peacemaking and peacebuilding are related but distinct approaches to preventing violence, ending armed conflict and establishing sustainable peace. Peacekeeping generally seeks to maintain peace and prevent renewed violence after or during an agreement. Peacemaking focuses on diplomatic efforts to bring conflicting parties toward a settlement. Peacebuilding addresses the deeper…
Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Strategy Introduction Nuclear weapons and nuclear strategy occupy a central position in international security because of the extraordinary destructive capability of nuclear weapons and their implications for deterrence, strategic stability, arms control and international politics. Nuclear strategy concerns how states develop, deploy and communicate nuclear capabilities and how they seek to…
Hadith and Sunnah 1 What is the basic linguistic meaning of Sunnah? (a) Way, path, or established practice (b) Book (c) Law court (d) None of these 2 In Islamic terminology, Sunnah generally refers to: (a) Every historical event in Arabia (b) The normative way and practice of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (c) Only Quranic verses…
Introduction to Hadith 1 What is the basic linguistic meaning of the Arabic word Hadith? (a) Law (b) Worship (c) Charity (d) Report or narration 2 In Islamic terminology, Hadith primarily refers to reports concerning: (a) The statements, actions, approvals, and descriptions of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (b) Only the verses of the Quran (c) Only…
Interstate and Intrastate Conflict Introduction Interstate and intrastate conflict represent two broad categories of armed conflict classified according to where the principal parties to the conflict are located and who is fighting whom. Interstate conflict primarily involves states fighting one another. Intrastate conflict occurs primarily within the territory of a state and usually involves the…
War and Armed Conflict Introduction War and armed conflict are central concepts in international relations, strategic studies, international law and political history. They describe organized violence involving states, non-state actors or both. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they have different analytical and legal applications. War traditionally refers to sustained organized armed violence between…
Hybrid Warfare and Grey-Zone Competition Introduction Hybrid warfare and grey-zone competition describe strategies that combine different instruments of power to achieve political or strategic objectives while avoiding, limiting or complicating conventional military confrontation. These concepts are particularly relevant to contemporary international security because modern competition increasingly occurs across military, economic, political, informational, cyber and technological…
Collective Security and Collective Defence Introduction Collective security and collective defence are important concepts in international security. Although the terms are sometimes used interchangeably, they describe different institutional and strategic arrangements. Collective security is based on the principle that aggression against one member is a concern for the wider international community and that members should…
Deterrence, Compellence and Containment Introduction Deterrence, compellence and containment are major concepts in international security and strategic studies. They describe different ways in which states attempt to influence the behaviour of other states, armed groups or strategic competitors. Deterrence seeks to prevent an action by threatening unacceptable consequences. Compellence seeks to make an actor undertake,…
Deterrence 1. Introduction Deterrence is a strategy designed to prevent an actor from taking an unwanted action by convincing it that the expected costs will outweigh the expected benefits. It is one of the central concepts of strategic studies and international security. Deterrence does not primarily seek to defeat an opponent after aggression occurs. Its…
Strategic Stability 1. Introduction Strategic stability refers broadly to a condition in which states have limited incentives to initiate major conflict or to launch destabilizing military actions. The concept has been particularly important in nuclear strategy, arms control and relations among major military powers. Strategic stability does not necessarily mean the absence of rivalry. States…
Security and Insecurity 1. Introduction Security is one of the fundamental concepts of international relations. Traditionally, security was understood primarily in terms of protecting the state from military attack. Over time, the concept expanded to include economic, political, social, environmental, health, technological and human dimensions. The broader concept of security reflects the changing nature of…
Security Dilemma 1. Introduction The security dilemma is a central concept in international relations that explains how efforts by one state to increase its security can unintentionally reduce the security of other states. Because the international system lacks a central authority capable of guaranteeing the security of every state, countries often take measures to protect…
Collective Security 1. Introduction Collective security is an international security arrangement in which states agree that a threat or act of aggression against one member is a concern for all members. The central principle is that peace is protected collectively rather than by each state acting entirely on its own. Collective security seeks to discourage…