Global Security, the Number One Dilemma of the World Community: the Case of the United States

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

PART I: ARMAMENT AND DISARMAMENT

1. Armament and Disarmament in the 20th and 21st Centuries

1.1 World Military Expenditure and Nuclear Armament

1.2 Early Approaches to Disarmament and Humanitarian Law of War

1.3 Practical Obstacles to Nuclear Disarmament

2. Nuclear Security

2.1 Weapons of Mass Destruction and International Law

2.2 Nuclear Terrorism: Fighting and Identifying the Threat

2.3 Between Intergovernmental Cooperation and Catastrophe

2.4 Japan’s Self Defense: the Issue of Nuclear Breakout

PART II: ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY

3. Environmental Threats to Human Security

3.1 The Rise of Environmental Issues in Global Politics

3.2 Environmental Issues as Threats to Security and Reasons for Environmental Problems

3.3 Assessing Environmental Security

3.4 Global Environmental Change and Human Security

4. Natural Threats to Human Security

4.1 Natural Catastrophes, Population Pressures and Demand for Resources

4.2 Water Shortage and Global Water Problems

5. Fragmentation of International Environmental Law and the Synergy

5.1 Ad Hoc Approach to the Creation of MEAs and their Outcomes

5.2 The Longstanding Fragmented Chemical Regulation Regime

5.3 The Synergy Approach to MEAs

5.4 Creating the Synergy

5.5 The Synergy: the Solution to Fragmentation

PART III: Security Threats to States and Regional Security

6. Securitization

6.1 The Concept of Security

6.2 Broad and Restricted Conceptualization of Security

6.3 The Expanding of Security

7. Military Threats to Security from States

7.1 Ideological Geopolitics (the Cold War) and the New World Order

7.2 Collective Security

8. Nonviable States, a Major Root of Conflict Today

8.1 Microstates and the Issue of Non-viability

8.2 Socioeconomic Viability

8.3 Military Viability

8.4 Political Viability

9. Regional Security

9.1 Regionalism: Historical Overview

9.2 The Current Challenges of Regionalism

9.3 Constructing Regionalism

9.4 The Complexities of Regionalism and Typology of Regionalism

9.5 The Political and Legal Dimensions of Regional Security

PART IV: Military Strategies and Terrorism

10. A Brief Overview of Military Strategy

10.1 Strategic Principles of Fighting

10.2 Tactical Maneuvers

10.3 Initial Strategy and Tactics

10.4 The Development of Modern Warfighting

11. The Five Basic Military Strategies

11.1 The Strategy of Extermination

11.2 The Strategy of Exhaustion

11.3 The Strategy of Annihilation

11.4 The Strategy of Intimidation

11.5 The Strategy of Decapitation

12. Military Threats from Terrorists

12.1 The Increase of Political Non-State Violence in the World

12.2 State-Supported Terrorism

12.3 Non-State Radical Violence without Sponsorship and Non-State Military Groups

13. State Responses to Military Threats from Non-State Actors

13.1 Appeasement, Zero Tolerance, Containment and Diplomatic Measures

13.2 Intergovernmental Collaboration and International Responses to Radical Non-State Violence

13.3 Counterterrorism and Its Limitations

PART V: Peace and Conflict Resolution

14. An Alternative System to War

14.1 The Need for an Alternative System and the Impact of War on the Environment

14.2 Common Security and the Withdrawal of Military Bases

14.3 Dismantlement of Military Alliances and Reinforcement of Global Institutions

15. Building a Culture of Peace

15.1 The Reformation of the United Nations Security Council

15.2 Exposing Old Myths about War

15.3 Peace Journalism and Peace Education

16. Reasons for War

16.1 Poverty and Conflict

16.2 Grievance and Weak States

16.3 The Decrease of Interstate War

17. Strategies for International Conflict Resolution

17.1 Third Party Roles

17.2 Partisan Roles

17.3 Economic Sanctions

17.4 Prevention and Early Warnings

17.5 Negotiation

18. Peace Process and the Spoiler Issue

18.1 Types of Spoilers

18.2 Strategies for Spoilers Management

Research Objectives and Themes

This doctoral thesis seeks to deconstruct the traditional, military-centric concept of global security by demonstrating that it must be broadened to include human security, environmental issues, and the socio-economic viability of states. The research aims to evaluate the role of the global community in addressing these diverse challenges in the era post-Cold War, with a specific focus on the United States' international relationships.

• The evolution of the concept of security from national/military-focused to human-centric.
• The role of the world community in addressing non-state military actors and terrorism.
• The securitization of environmental threats, including climate change and resource scarcity.
• The challenges of nuclear disarmament and the limitations of current non-proliferation treaties.
• The assessment of state viability and the link between weak states and global conflict.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

INTRODUCTION: The introduction establishes the necessity of redefining global security beyond military threats, emphasizing human security and the roles of international organizations.

1. ARMAMENT AND DISARMAMENT IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES: This chapter analyzes global military expenditure and historical failures of arms control, setting the context for the current nuclear era.

2. NUCLEAR SECURITY: The chapter explores the dangers of weapons of mass destruction, the emergence of nuclear terrorism, and the specific case of Japan's nuclear stance.

3. ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO HUMAN SECURITY: This section discusses the rise of environmental politics, the securitization of environmental problems, and their impact on global peace.

4. NATURAL THREATS TO HUMAN SECURITY: It addresses how natural catastrophes, population pressures, and water shortages act as catalysts for conflict.

5. FRAGMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL LAW AND THE SYNERGY: The author evaluates the inefficiency of fragmented environmental law and proposes the "Synergy" model as a pragmatic solution.

6. SECURITIZATION: This chapter deepens the theoretical understanding of what constitutes a security threat, contrasting broad and restricted conceptualizations.

7. MILITARY THREATS TO SECURITY FROM STATES: It covers ideological geopolitics of the Cold War and the subsequent efforts toward collective security.

8. NONVIABLE STATES, A MAJOR ROOT OF CONFLICT TODAY: The author defines state non-viability across socio-economic, military, and political dimensions as a primary driver of modern instability.

9. REGIONAL SECURITY: This chapter investigates the challenges of regionalism and the complex interplay between regional organizations and the UN Security Council.

Keywords

Global Security, Human Security, Nuclear Disarmament, Environmental Security, Terrorism, Non-State Actors, Collective Security, State Viability, Conflict Resolution, Geopolitics, Non-Proliferation Treaty, Sustainability, Regionalism, Military Strategy, Peacebuilding.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the core argument of this thesis?

The thesis argues that the traditional military-focused definition of security is inadequate for contemporary global challenges. It advocates for an expanded conceptualization that includes human, environmental, and socio-economic dimensions.

Which fields does the author identify as crucial for modern security?

The author identifies political, military, economic, societal, and environmental sectors as essential to a comprehensive security agenda.

How is global security linked to environmental change?

The work posits that environmental degradation, such as climate change, desertification, and resource scarcity, directly threatens human life and stability, thus acting as a significant source of modern insecurity.

What scientific approach does the author employ?

The thesis utilizes an historical approach combined with elements of postmodern theory to analyze the evolution of power and global problems from the 1970s to the present.

What is the author's stance on non-state military actors?

The author contends that non-state military groups, including terrorists, have emerged as significant, though non-traditional, actors in international affairs that require a rethink of security and legal doctrines.

What are the primary keys used to define a security threat?

The author references Ullman (1983), defining a threat as an event that drastically degrades the quality of life for a population or significantly narrows the range of policy choices available to a government.

How does the author characterize the 'Synergy' in environmental law?

The Synergy is presented as a pragmatic administrative consolidation of disparate chemical conventions to reduce costs and increase efficacy in international environmental regulation.

What specific concerns does the thesis raise regarding Japan's nuclear potential?

The thesis discusses Japan's "nuclear hedge," noting that while Japan maintains a non-nuclear policy, its advanced technical capabilities and regional security concerns (China, North Korea) keep the debate over a potential nuclear breakout relevant.