Discussion Board Questions on Human Security

Q1.

U.S's military withdrawal from Iraq and Afghanistan acknowledges the country's military bases presence in other countries. The nation still has hundreds of its bases and thousands of its troops across the globe. About 83 in South Korea, 172 bases exist in Germany, 113 in Japanand 80 in other countries including Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia and Qatar among others (Vogel, 2013).

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The Soviet threat of the 20th century saw the justification of these military installations. The 1990s wars of the Middle East have required nations like Bahrain and Turkey gain strategic significance as US's strikes on Islamic State are propelled from the Incirlik base. The current threat to China's growing power prompts America to strengthen its presence in the Pacific.

The current international system has allowed the operation of free economies increasing the number of terrorist attacks such as the September 11th attack. This has led to more support for the installation of military bases abroad. However, the current military bases abroad may cause hatred as well as more harm leading to increased terrorism. Further, the current cost of living overseas is very high requiring the government to add about $10,000 and $40,000 for a single soldier (Vogel, 2013). Lastly, more protests against military activities like noise and disruption exist.

The future military presence abroad may differ from yesterdays in several ways. One, the living standards are becoming expensive to maintain the current economy. The government will, therefore, be required to pay more to maintain its bases abroad. Two, protests may grow against military bases and might result in violent attacks and kidnappings on military personnel.

Q2.

The National Defense Strategy recognizes a complicated world security setting featured by explicit issues to the international system as well as the re-appearance of competition among countries. These alterations need a clear analysis of challenges faced, recognition of the fluctuating character of warfare, as well as a change of how the sector carries out its activities.

The US's success and security have been facing competition from revisionist powers such as China and Russia (Mattis 2018). These countries are shaping the globe with their authoritarian model which has gained veto power on other countries' economic, diplomatic as well as security decisions. Also, the US is challenged with the fast technological innovations and the fluctuating character of war. The assurance that the US has always enjoyed dominant superiority before, the ongoing competition has made the Department of Defense strategize in order to remain dominant.

One, the DoD has taken steps to build a more lethal force by preparing to win in case of a war. The nation has built a sufficient and a capable force that can defeat competitors and realize sustainable results that safeguard the citizen's significant interests. Two, the DoD aims to strengthen its alliances and interest emerging partners. The last 75 years have seen this strategy assist the USA during peace and war as its allies and partners came to its aid following the 9/11 attack for instance. The nation's allies come to protect freedom, end war and sustain rules thereby underwriting a free as well as open international order. Lastly, the DoD should reform for greater performance as well as affordability. The current bureaucratic strategy which centers on demanding thoroughness as well as minimizing risk has become unresponsive. Therefore, the department must change to a strategy of performance where outcome as well as accountability matter. This will allow leadership to harness opportunities as well as enable effective stewardship of taxpayer resources (Mattis, 2018).

Q3.

Human security is the safety from acute challenges like hunger as well as illnesses and protection from harmful interruptions in the day to day lives (UN, 2004). This idea came into being during the Cold War era. However, the ceasing of these interstate wars did not stop the continuation of civic as well as ethnic wars which existed owing to globalization and nationalism The realist, state-centric model of security that guided territorial integrity over individuals led to its existence requiring the referent of security to be the individual (Jolly & Ray, 2006). Therefore, the way to maintain international security was via the merging of development and security thereby making the individual be centric to the security agenda (UN, 2004).

Human security has ensured that the previously neglected issues have gained significance in the international realm. This has happened via increased funding as well as the advancement of specific issues to the saliency of high politics. For instance, the 2002 formation of the International Criminal Court can be attributed to the concept. The concept challenges the prior unquestioned scope of state sovereignty as well as the normality of non-intervention that had triumphed.

Therefore, the idea of human security puts the individual at the center of global security via the unification of prior sovereign matters of progress as well as security. The security of "there" becomes a global issue as well as inseparably connected to "here" making the human security and international insecurity restored (MacFarlane & Khong, 2006).

References

Jolly, R. & Ray, D. B. (2006). National Human Development Reports and the Human Security Framework: A Review of Analysis and Experience, Brighton: Institute of Development Studies.

MacFarlane, S. N. & Khong, Y. F. (2006). Human Security and the UN: A Critical History, Indianapolis: Indiana University Press.

Mattis, Jim. (2018). Summary of the National Defense Strategy of the United States of America:Sharpening the American Military's Competitive Edge, Retrieved from: https://www.defense.gov/Portals/1/Documents/pubs/2018-National-Defense-Strategy-Summary.pdf

United Nations (UN) (2004) 'A More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility', Report of the High-level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, New York, United Nations Foundation.

Vogel, S. (Jan 5, 2013). "Navy Annex being razed after 70 years". Washington Post.