Chapter 8 War and Strife

Security Issues Global trends, see: –Human security includes economic/social well-being, literacy, adequate health care, safe environment, etc. Security dilemma –anarchic international system, absence of centralized authority –one state’s becoming more secure diminishes another state’s security –permanent condition of tension, power conflicts Key questions: –Is self-help only alternative? –Can states mitigate effects of security dilemma? –How can insecurity be managed short of war?

Causes of War Individual –aggressiveness, misperceptions, mass attributes, communication failure State –Capitalist states, nondemocratic regimes, domestic politics, scapegoating (diversionary war), struggle between groups for economic resources, ethnonational challengers System –Anarchy, lack of arbiter, cycles of war and peace, power transitions, aggressive international capitalist class Most product of interaction of various factors at different levels of analysis

Types of Wars General war = conquer and occupy enemy territory, all available weapons, targeting military and civilian –massive loss of life, widespread destruction –many participants, multiple major powers Civil war = conflict within state between factions to control government; may have international repercussions, often leading to intervention –Ethnonationalist movements -- to gain autonomy, secede Limited war = fought for limited objectives, selected weapons and targets; object less than total subjugation

Modes of Warfare Conventional means –key developments (since 1980s) precise targeting, miniaturization/lighter-weight weapons Increase in international armaments market Weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) = nuclear, chemical, biological; lethal and indiscriminate –Controversy whether nuclear weapons/proliferation destabilizing Asymmetric warfare = between parties of unequal strength; weaker party tries to neutralize opponent’s strength by exploiting weaknesses –Guerilla warfare = irregular militaries hide in civilian population, use hit and run to wear down enemy –Terrorism = use of violence by groups or states usually against noncombatants to intimidate, cause fear, or punish victims to achieve political goals

Just War Tradition Just cause (jus ad bellum) –Self defense, defense of others, massive violation of human rights (humanitarian intervention) and declaration of intent by appropriate authority (Security Council) –Correct intentions (end abuses, establish just peace) –Exhausted all other alternatives (war as last resort) Just conduct (jus in bello) –Differentiation between combatants and noncombatants –Violence proportionate to ends –Undue human suffering avoided Humanitarian intervention (responsibility/imperative to protect) controversial

Liberal Approach to Security International institutions coordinate actions to manage power Collective security –Unlawful aggression met by united action –States join together against aggressor Arms control and disarmament –Fewer weapons means greater security –Regulation of arms proliferation (arms control) –Reducing amount/type of arms (disarmament) –Reduces costs of security dilemma

Realist Approach to Security Reliance on force or threat of force to manage power Balance of power –States make choices to increase capabilities and undermine capabilities of others, thereby maintaining balance of power (internal and external) Alliances are tool to enhance power and check power potential of rival (example of external balancing) Deterrence War can be prevented by the threat of use of force