Security Studies

In my security essay I argued that national security and human security were essential to understanding security in the 21^st century. Having read varying cases in class, stretching my conception of security I still hold the same belief but add an additional layer that includes the environments role in security issues. The dictionary definition of security is: “the state of being free from danger or threat.”[1] I think culturally we have built up this conception that enables us to immediately associate national security and the military with security. However, when looking at security in its simplest form it becomes evident that while national security still falls under its umbrella so does a host of other things including human security. The examples in class only further emphasized my view that security is an all-encompassing term.

One thing I had not thought of as being a potential security issue was the environment. Tuvalu, the disappearing island provides a host of complex security issues affecting a wide facet of security issues as a result of uncontrollable environmental factors. This example got me thinking about the environment from a security perspective. Climate change is already having adverse effects on the environment across the globe complicating the lives of millions. Fresh water is running out, there is the potential for overcrowding and natural disasters are increasing in both number and intensity. The changing environment in some respects is creating a space for potential human security problems. Essentially, I believe all security is linked. If we are damaging our environment to the point where it is having adverse effects on individual’s basic ways of life we are then causing human and ontological concerns. Additionally, protection of natural resources as they being to deplete such as water and oil for example are likely to cause both internal and external conflicts potentially causing national security issues. Without basic elements of survival, people will begin to fight to survive, and in the extreme case without a people there is no nation. While this is a long and complicated chain I believe it is essential to understand in order to protect human and national security.

Going forth, I believe governments should prioritize citizens and the protection of the environment as unrealistic as that may be. If we are able to protect our natural resources and limit the negative impact we are having on the environment their will be a positive ripple effect among human lives. I am aware that this will not solve all security problems however; I think it is an interesting way to approach security in some respects. This is not to say that all security issues can be related to the environment rather that some can be linked back to such causes and it is another lens in which to view security. In essence, there is more to security than it may seem including ways to potential prevent certain issues from arising such as what I have suggested above. We can no longer adhere to just the traditional sense of security rather we must adapt to our changing environment including new types of issues into the security umbrella much like the US has molded and built upon the foundation of the Constitution to fit the needs of society today.

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[1] www.google.com