POLS 1301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Critical Security Studies, Nuclear Proliferation, Security Dilemma
23 Mar 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
During the cold war national security meant military security . From late 1980s societal security school of thought developed. Goal: broaden the discourse on security to include economic, environmental, social, and political issues. Reaction to genocides in several multiethnic countries. States will try to balance against one another to avoid the ascension of a hegemon. Security dilemma: uncertainty and lack of trust among states. Cheating: cooperation hindered by constant fear that another state will cheat to gain an advantage. Relative gains: states are more concerned about status as compared to other states instead of absolute status in the international system. International institutions help promote stability and cooperation in the international system. States investing in these institutions is evidence of their belief that they are beneficial to the international system. Institutions created after world war ii in western europe have diminished concerns of a general european war. Shared values, common aversions lead to cooperation.
