Security and the Issue of International Security

Posted: January 4th, 2023

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Security and the Issue of International Security

Introduction

            Security is a sensitive and significant issue that projects different meanings to scholars, analysts, policymakers, and organizations across the globe. Fundamentally, security is concerned with the presence of peace, safety, gladness, and the protection of human and physical resources. It implies the absence of crises or threats to human dignity, which facilitate development and progress in society. The concept of security has become a preoccupation for the decades following the end of the Cold War, which could also be referred to as a landmark for the diverse school of thought with security studies (Pease, 2002). Security, as a concept, has different dimensions that are aptly applied in psychology, finance, information access, public safety, defense, and military matters. The concept of human security as a basis of other forms of security and the notion of national and international security are explored.

Discussion

            Traditionally, the issue of security focused on the security of the state and the perennial problem of war, which led to massive losses of lives and destruction of property and communities. There are many causes of war that are intertwined among societies. Nations fight for tangible reasons such as territorial boundaries and resources (Pease, 2002). However, intangible reasons such as ideological differences, nationalism, and religion are also reported causes of war. With continued civilization and international relations, the maintenance of security has become a priority for states to foster their interactions.

            Technological advancements have increasingly complicated the causes and effects of war. Contemporary wars tend to have both internal and external sources, and more sophisticated weapons are readily available for purchase to any party. Even though the fighting may be confined within a state, the consequences of war are often felt in other regions, often resulting in international repercussions (Pease, 2002). International organizations and member countries resort to managing the ill effects of war and enhance mechanisms that may help in the prevention of wars in the future.

            International security is majorly concerned with the state of peace among nations in a region. However, international organizations conceptualize the security in terms of human security, as a people-centered approach that focuses on physical threats to individuals (Pease, 2002). Such threats include not only war and other forms of violent conflict but also hunger, disease, environmental disasters, or extreme poverty. Physical threats to human security can result from their government or other groups within society.

            The emergence of international organizations has facilitated the formation of solid bodies that are responsible for carrying out important assignments in identifying, defining, and responding to threats to international peace and security. For instance, after world war II, the United Nations was formed with the main aim of maintaining international peace and security. To attain its objective, the UN reported taking effective collective measures for the prevention and removal of threats to peace and security (Pease, 2002). The body provided outlined procedures that could bring about peaceful means of conflict resolution among member states in conformity with the principles of justice and international law.

            The UN has specialized agencies that ensure all aspects of human security are maintained in member countries. The development of the World Health Organization is responsible for international public health has greatly boosted health security. The agency outlines appropriate measures to enhance human health by providing measures against diseases, unsafe food, malnutrition, and lack of adequate access to basic health care (Pease, 2002). Besides, the UN Environmental Programme coordinates environmental activities in member countries to enhance environmental security by outlining measures against environmental degradation, resource depletion, natural disasters, and pollution. These agencies play an important role in maintaining international security and boosting relations between member states.

            International security is better described as the efforts and measures taken by nations, regional, and international organizations to ensure mutual survival and safety through the use of diplomacy and military actions. The UN Development Programme defines international security as freedom from fear and freedom from want and to a greater extend, national security provides the foundation for international security.

            The UN and the foundation of its organs are influenced by a variety of actors, forces, and international dynamics that require close monitoring to enhance international security. The emergence of nuclear weapons poses a great danger to international security, and appropriate measures through the laws laid up in international agreements on the use of such weapons are required to regulate their use and maintain peace among nations (Pease, 2002). The nature of global governance greatly influences interactions among nations and determine the extent of international security.

Conclusion

            Security is basically concerned with the presence of peace, safety, gladness, and the protection of human and physical resources. Different dimensions of security that are aptly applied in psychology, finance, information access, public safety, defense, and military matters. International security is a vital aspect of security that influences the interaction of nations in the world. Countries have to maintain good relations in an attempt to obtain mutual benefit from their interactions. The emergence of international organizations such as the UN has led to the formation of different organs responsible for maintaining relations at different levels between member states.

The History of International Trade

Introduction

            Trade is the process of buying, selling, or exchange of goods and services at either retail or wholesale within a nation or between states. International trade deals with the business transaction between citizens of different nations. It is the exchange of goods and services among citizens of independent countries. The genesis of international trade lies in the comparative cost advantage between the two nations. The difference could be due to different factor endowment of the nature or degree of ecological advancement and capital formation. The availability of such factors of production may lead to cost differential along with the scales of production in different countries. A country capable of producing low-cost goods in plenty has an obvious motivation to export the same and import the commodities which are scarce in that country. A brief history of international trade is explored in this essay.

Discussion

            The integration and interdependence of the world economies are rapidly growing in the modern world of globalization and the liberalization of trade. In the attempts for every nation to provide higher living standards for its citizens, it is quite difficult for countries to provide all the products of quality at competitive prices (Pease, 2002). International trade has become instrumental for nations as it is increasingly being considered to be vital in raising income and national wealth together with the well-being of involved countries.

            By ensuring free competition through global trade, the danger of monopolistic exploitation of consumers is reduced because the production of goods takes place in the most efficient manner, and prices are no higher than the average cost of production. World trade provides maximum scope for the optimum exploitation and allocation of the world’s scarce resources. Economic exploitation of one country by another state is difficult because there are various buyers to purchase her goods, and she can also buy her requirements from multiple sources of supply (Pease, 2002). Indeed, the international division of labor and exchange of commodities are cornerstones of our economic system, and the present geographic distribution of population and our industrial civilization are unthinkable without international trade.

International trade is vital in maximizing production in the world. It helps in raising capital productivity during the early stages of development in developing countries while at the same time maintaining high levels of productivity in developed countries. Apart from economic significance and impact, international trade creates mutual understanding between political institutions, habits of thought, and philosophies of life by raising human communication (Pease, 2002). Through this, mutual respect, friendliness, and international peace are fostered between nations. Foreign trade allows access to the world’s resources to all countries in terms of equality and reveals the sense of mutual interdependence in the world.

The evolution of trade dates back to the first commercial activities by man on earth to exchange goods for satisfying his needs. The activity consequently developed from localized exchange to national and international levels. The primary mode of trade was the barter system in which goods and services were exchanged for products and services (Pease, 2002). This kind of trade was assumed to be balanced on both parties involved. Currently, trade is characterized by the development of multilateral features of international trade involving many countries, many commodities and services, and many currencies of diverse nature. Additionally, there are foreign labor and capital flows, which result in a multilateral flow of money between different nations.

The mercantilism phase of international trade development was dominant in the 16^th and 17^th centuries through which European nations majorly focused on national welfares. It was based on the notion that national interests were inevitably in conflict, and countries were able to increase their trade at the expense of other nations (Pease, 2002). Many governments imposed price and wage controls, supported national industries, promoted export of finished products, and importation of raw materials while at the same time limiting exportation of raw materials and import of finished products. In this phase, states limited traders to a monopoly of resources and trade outlets to its colonies.

Later on, liberalism developed in the middle of the 18^th century as a strong reaction against the mercantilist attitude in trading on international grounds. This phase championed the abolition of trade restrictions in the global arena. Economists and traders aired their opposition to excessively high and often prohibitive customs duties and proposed negotiation for trade agreements with foreign nations (Pease, 2002). This move laid the basis for modern trade with the signing of international trade agreements embodying the new ideas of global trading.

The emergence of international trade organizations such as the World Trade Organization and other Multinational Corporations provided a foundation for the liberalization of trading activities among member nations through different agreements. These organizations were a potent force behind achieving free trade among nations(Pease, 2002). The evolution of international trade has seen the management of these organizations shifting from advanced and industrialized countries to currently having a representative head almost in every member state.

Conclusion

International trade involves the exchange of goods and services from a global perspective. Through foreign trade, nations are able to understand the benefit of mutual interdependence and international peace and security. This essay explores the evolution of international trade from the traditional barter trade through the mercantilism and liberalism phases that led to the rise of free trade on the international level. Additionally, international organizations and multinational corporations played a significant role in enhancing trading activities through the set of laws and championing of the signing of trade agreements among nations.

Reference

Pease, K.-K. (2002). International Organizations (5th ed.). “Chapter 5 Security.” Webster University

Pease, K.-K. (2002). International Organizations (5th ed.). “Chapter 6 International Trade.” Webster University