Key Security Issues Facing the World Today

Key Security Issues Facing the World Today

Security is a complex issue that is intertwined with cultural, social, and economic factors among other things (Altman, Camilleri, Eckersley & Hoffstaedter, 2012; Williams, 2012). What might be of great concern to a certain group might not necessary be an issue to another one. However, there is a consensus that some issues transcend our natural boundaries and can have detrimental effects on a large group of people. These can be referred to as security issues since they can have a devastating impact on the lives of many people. World security is a complex issue because often, one problem degenerates and gives birth to another problem. For instance, political differences can spill over and become an inter-state conflict (Williams, 2012).  A good example is what is happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where neighbouring countries have been drawn to solve an internal conflict. Indeed, greed among the political class, which reveals itself in poor governance, is the main cause of the security issues affecting the world today. This paper will analyse the factors in the light of their importance and significance.

 

• Poor Governance

Poor governance is the leading cause of most of the security concerns bedevilling the world today. It is because of the lack of trust in the ruling class leaders that instability breeds and gains ground in most countries. Obviously, most of these security issues result from a complex vicious circle. It is not easy to know exactly what breeds what; however, poor governance is the most likely cause of turmoil in many countries. Poor priorities often lead to the rising cost of living or misallocation of funds in addressing the challenges facing a state (Dupont & Reckmeyer, 2012). For instance, most countries in Africa misuse donor funds, leading to the high cost of living in these countries. Political players, at the instigation of outside forces, gang up to push inept governments out of power. A good example is what happened in the Arab world in the early 2011 as the governments were toppled because of corruption, (Williams, 2012) among other allegations. Hosni Mubarak lost grip on power because of corruption allegations and his governments’ efforts to stifle dissent during his tenure. The Muslim Brotherhood, a group that has been associated with terror activities has currently taken over the running of the government (theisraelproject.org, 2012). It is no wonder that terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula has increased in the last one year. Another example is the conflict in the great Lakes Region, pitting the government of Congo Brazzaville and the neighbouring countries. The conflict has continued for many years. The underlying factors are greed, poor governance, and political intrigues among others. Indeed, the Congo War has not only devastated the country, but has also drawn the neighbouring countries into the conflict (Prunier, 2009). The point here is, poor governance, can lead to political instability, which leads to loss of lives and poverty among millions of people. The challenge falls on the United Nations. The UN must compel world leaders to respect the will of the people as well as the sovereignty of other countries (Dupont & Reckmeyer, 2012). For instance, the Congo War has made the country’s border more porous. This case is not unique in this area alone. Illegal trade, such as the sale of small arms, done with the knowledge of the ruling class, continue to flourish in many parts of the world (Forest & Sousa, 2006). This makes physical security virtually impossible to guarantee.

 

• Terrorism

Terrorism has become a major security scare in many parts of the world (Williams, 2012). The early forms of terrorism are often disputed. However, it is clear that political groupings in many parts of the world used terror as a way of achieving their political end (Williams, 2012). For instance, terrorism activities were rife during the French Revolution. Those who opposed the revolution were executed (Linton, 2003). The rise in terrorism is associated with oppression propagated by the ruling class against a certain group or all the people. Today, terror activities are associated with illegal groups like Al Qaeda. According to the United Nations (UN), terrorism is a threat to humanity in many ways. First, it leads to loss of lives and, secondly, it has pushed millions of people into poverty. For example, the 9/11 terror attack increased the number of people living below the poverty line by 10 million. This is far less compared to the threat posed by nuclear confrontations as most states continue to boast about their nuclear capabilities.

 

• Fiscal Stability

It is difficultto draw a clear distinction between the many security issues affecting the world because of their interrelationships (Dupont & Reckmeyer, 2012). This becomes more apparent as one observes the role of global and fiscal stability in light of security issues affecting the world. Developing and developed countries must put more resources in financing infrastructure, environmental programs, and innovation to safeguard against any future crisis (Bassanini & Reviglio, 2011). The devastating effects of the 2007/2008 financial crisis are evident to all. However, the worry is that leaders rarely learn from history. The 2007 global crisis emerged from poor regulatory frameworks that saw people borrow money at low rates of interest to build or buy houses. Banks and financial institutions did not carryout background checks on borrowers because of competition to get customers. The global crisis of 1937 had the same origins. Indeed, another crisis is inevitable, and the results might even be worse than what transpired in 2007. Fiscal instability leads to loss of unemployment, social unrest, poverty, lack of trust in the government (Bassanini & Reviglio, 2011). These are possible grounds for political instability.

 

• Cyber Crime

The advancements in technological information cannot be ignored in this discussion. Indeed, cyber warfare has become a serious threat that might easily overshadow other forms of security concerns in the near future (Susskind, 2013; Williams, 2012). Cyber crimes have traditionally taken the form of cyber-exhortation. Nowadays, the game has shifted to online identity theft, which has affected millions of people (Williams, 2012). People within a state or outside have executed systematic attacks on secure networks. A lone hacker might not pose a big threat to national security. However, radical groups, working in cohorts, can cause serious breaches to national security. A country’s security alignments can be affected if a rival or a militia group can access sensitive information by hacking its information systems (Susskind, 2013; Williams, 2012).

 

• Conclusion

In summary, security issues refer to those problems that can lead to a massive loss of lives or suffering among many people. The most serious challenges discussed in this paper are poor governance, terrorism, conflicts among states, fiscal instability, and cyber crimes. Security issues often overlap such that one problem can trigger the others in an endless circle. Indeed, some of these problems are easy to deal with if political players can learn to respect the rights of others. For instance, political instability can arise due to mistrust or corrupt practices by a certain regime. Political instability can lead to a rise in armed militia groups that plan retaliatory attacks. Terrorists can also flourish in such environments. Therefore, political will to govern states by respecting the rights of others can go a long way in mitigating the numerous security challenges facing the world today. Governments face a great challenge in determining and addressing these challenges. It is imperative that the setting of national values, as well as budgets must be inline with predetermined security priorities. In addition, the UN has made critical steps in resolving and addressing these challenges. However, the success can only be realized if countries show a determined effort to respect the rights of its citizens, as well as the right of other countries. Without this, it would be impossible to have a secure planet.

Reference List

Altman, D. Camilleri, J.,  Eckersley, R. & Hoffstaedter, G.  2012. Why Human Security Matters: Rethinking Australian Foreign Policy .  London: Allen &Unwin

Bassanini, F. & Reviglio, E. 2011.Financial Stability, Fiscal Consolidation and Long-Term Investment after the Crisis. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/finance/financial-markets/48609330.pdf

Dupont,  A & Reckmeyer, W. J. 2012. Australia’s national security priorities: addressing strategic risk in a globalised world, Australian Journal of International Affairs, (66) 1: 34-51.

Forest, J. F. & Sousa, V. M. 2006. Oil and Terrorism in the New Gulf: Framing U.S. Energy and Security Policies for the Gulf of Guinea. London: Lexington Books.

Linton, M. 2003.  The Terror in the French Revolution. Retrieved from http://www.port.ac.uk/special/france1815to2003/chapter1/interviews/filetodownload,20545,en.pdf

Prunier, G. 2009. Africa’s World War: Congo, the Rwandan Genocide, and the Making of a Continental Catastrophe. New York: Oxford University Press.

Susskind, J. 2013. Cyber Security, Not Terrorism, Number One Threat to National Security. Retrieved from http://ivn.us/2013/03/15/cyber-security-not-terrorism-number-one-threat-to-national-security/

theisraelproject.org 2012. Terrorists seek to Perpetrate Attacks in Sinai over the Weekend. Retrieved from http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=ewJXKcOUJlIaG&b=7712195&ct=12259385#.UVaFrXrixkg

United Nations, 2004. Report of the United Nations High Level Panel for Threats, Challenges and Change, a More Secure World: Our Shared Responsibility Retrieved from http://www.un.org/secureworld/

Williams, P. D.  2013. Security Studies: An Introduction. London and New York: Routledge.

 

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