5.4. Traditional Security and Cooperation

In traditional security, there is a recognition that cooperation in limiting violence is possible. These limits relate both to the ends and the means of war. It is now an almost universally-accepted view that countries should only go to war for the right reasons, primarily self-defence or to protect other people from genocide.

Traditional security emphasizes the importance of military power and recognizes that cooperation among states can help manage conflicts. It advocates for going to war only in self-defence or when protecting others from serious threats like genocide. This means that countries are encouraged to find peaceful solutions before resorting to violence.

Imagine two countries that have been at odds due to territorial disputes. Instead of going to war, they decide to negotiate and agree to share resources. This cooperation can prevent violence and promote peace, similar to two neighbors resolving a disagreement over a shared fence.

Traditional security must also concern itself with internal security. After the Second World War, internal security became less emphasized for powerful countries since they faced no serious threats from groups living within their borders. However, newly-independent countries faced threats from both external and internal sources.

While traditional security often focuses on external threats (like attacks from other nations), it is just as important to maintain internal security, which concerns safety and order within a country's own borders. For new nations, ensuring internal peace is crucial because they often face challenges from separatist movements or civil unrest.

Think of a newly-formed country like a family moving into a new house. Initially, they need to secure the house from outside threats (like burglars). However, they also need to ensure that family members are not fighting among themselves over belongings, as internal conflict can be as damaging as external threats.

Traditional security also involves alliance building. An alliance is a coalition of states that coordinate their actions to deter or defend against military attack. Most alliances are based on national interests and can change when those interests shift.

Countries often form alliances, which are agreements between nations to support each other in times of conflict. These alliances can strengthen security as countries work together toward common goals. They can change based on the political landscape or individual countries' needs.

This is like a group of friends at school who agree to stand together against a bully. If one friend is attacked, the others will back them up. However, if a new friend joins the group with different interests, some might leave, showing how alliances can change based on interests.

Traditional views of security do not rule out other forms of cooperation such as disarmament, arms control, and confidence building. Disarmament requires all states to give up certain kinds of weapons, while arms control regulates the acquisition or development of weapons.

In addition to military alliances, countries can engage in cooperative security efforts like disarmament, which is the elimination of weapons, or arms control, which seeks to limit the spread and development of weapons. These efforts help reduce the likelihood of conflict and promote peace.

Consider a community that decides to put down their weapons to focus on building a better neighborhood. They agree to disarm themselves because they realize that living in peace is more beneficial than being armed against one another.

Traditional security also accepts confidence-building as a means of avoiding violence. This is a process where countries share military intentions and plans to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to conflict.

Confidence-building measures help countries show they are not preparing for war by transparently sharing information about their military plans. This openness can reduce tensions and foster trust between nations, making conflict less likely.

This is like two neighbors who have been quarreling over a property line. If they sit down and discuss their property boundaries openly, misunderstandings can be cleared up, and they’ll feel more secure about not intruding on one another's space.

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