International security:
Basic theories and concepts
International Security Policy (BSSb1105), 19/09/2022
Vendula Divišová, FSS MU
vendula.divisova@mail.muni.cz

Learning goals
1.to understand the different meanings of security and its relation to the main IR schools
2.to be able to specify security with respect to different elements (means, costs, time… )
3.to get acquainted with the notions of security policy, (security) strategy, security environment
and their key elements
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„Security matters. It is impossible to make sense of world politics without reference to it. Every
day, people somewhere in the world are killed, starved, tortured, raped, impoverished, imprisoned,
displaced, or denied education in the name of security.“ (Williams, 2008)




realism
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power
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peace
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security
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liberalism
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Realists (and power)
–international politics is anarchical (no higher power above states)
–the overriding goal of states is to survive
•→ by increasing their power
–power as the prime motive for the behaviour of actors
–security as a derivate of power (accumulation of power to ensure security)
–power - primarily understood in terms of material resources to induce harm or coerce other states
(power = military capabilities)
–neorealism - security as the primary motivation of states
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Liberals (and peace)
–human nature as essentially good → people capable of mutual aid and collaboration
–mutual benefits and international cooperation (x rejection of power politics)
–war is not inevitable, its frequency can be reduced by eradicating anarchical conditions
–central issues - lasting peace and cooperation in IR
–the idea of an international community
–security as the primary goal in state-to-state interactions
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Security as an inherently contested concept?
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"… a nation is secure to the extent to which it is not in danger of having to sacrifice core values
if it wishes to avoid war, and is able, if challenged, to maintain them by victory in such a war.“
(Walter Lippman, 1943)
The concept of national security

“… security, in an objective sense, measures the absence of threats to acquired values, in a
subjective sense, the absence of fear that such values will be attacked.“ (Arnold Wolfers, 1952)
Objective x subjective security

-those definitions reflect a dichotomic view of security (secure or not)
-it is uncertain what are national / core values or interests?
-perspective of national security and great powers
–less useful for small states
–ignores international security
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The concept of national security

“a state, under which threats to an object (usually a nation-state or an international
organization) and its interests are eliminated as far as possible and this object is effectively
equipped to eliminate existing and potential threats and willing to cooperate“ (Mareš, 2002)
Modern definition of security

“…national security includes traditional defence policy and also the non-military actions of a
state to ensure its total capacity to survive as a political entity in order to exert influence and
to carry out its internal and international objectives.“ (Michael H.H. Louw)
Negative x positive security

Specifying security
A.Security for whom?
B.Security for which values?
C.How much security?
D.From what threats?
E.By what means?
F.At what cost?
G.In what time period?
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A. Security for whom?
–whose values are to be secured?
–traditionally, state as the dominant referent object → gradual „deepening“ of security (will be
covered in Lecture 3)
–individual / community
–state
–international system / global community
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B. Security for which values?
–the concept of national security traditionally included sovereignity, political independence and
territorial integrity
–values often enshrined in the constitutional order
–some states also seek protection for more marginal values
–the protection of values often translated into interests to be promoted
–example: Security Strategy of the Czech Republic (2015)
–Vital interests
–Strategic interests
–Other important interests
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C. How much security?
–security is a value of which a nation can have more or less / which it can aspire to have in
greater or lesser measure
–absolute security is unattainable → how much security is enough? (without activating security
dilemma)
–allocation of scarce resources among competing ends
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D. From which threats?
–threats to acquired values can arise from any sources
–security traditionally equated with military threats ® gradual „widening“ of security (will be
covered by Lecture 2)
–Military
–Political
–Societal
–Economical
–Environmental
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E. By what means?
–traditionally equated with the accumulation of military power
–today - many different policies may be plausibly adopted in the pursuit of security
–different elements of power (Diplomatic, Information, Military, Economic)
–Security Strategy of the Czech Republic (2015) – the means differ according to the interests
(vital x strategic x other)
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F. At what cost?
–the pursuit of security always involves costs (security policy compete with other values /
policies)
–the economic law of diminishing returns - at a certain point, the gain in security no longer
compensates for the added costs of attaining it
–states / citizens tend to experience efforts for security as a burden → inclined to minimise these
efforts
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G. In what time period?
–most rational policies may differ greatly from short-term efforts to atain security
–security policy needs to adapt to changes in strategic environment, alliances, political
priorities, resources etc.
–grand strategy - security policy - security strategy
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Strategic environment and strategy
–strategic (security) environment - „internal and external context, conditions, relationships,
trends, issues, threats, opportunities, interactions, and effects that influence the success of the
state in relation to the physical world, other states and actors, chance, and the possible futures
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–strategist seeks to protect and advance the interests of the state within the SE through specific
effects
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–strategy = ends + ways + means
–strategy seeks to cause specific effects in the environment by employment of specific instruments
of power (DIME)
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Security policy
–(national) security policy
–a general description that sets priorities and goals for security provision
–how a state aims to provide for its own security and that of its population
–a national understanding of the threats and risks of the security environment, and the values and
principles that will guide the state in providing security
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–(national) security strategy
–how the goals set in a national security policy can be achieved
–a practical document (or set of documents) that details the necessary instruments to implement a
national security policy
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Elements of national security policy
i.Vision and goals
ii.Values and principles
iii.Strategic environment (current and future threats, risks, challenges and opportunities)
iv.National interests and strategic objectives
v.International obligations

Summary
–different approaches towards security (realism x liberalism)
–security as a neglected concept
–the need for specification of security (actors, values, threats, amount… )
–difference between (national) security policy and security strategy
–main elements of national security policy
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