1. International Security
Tiiu Pohl
2019

2. International Security
Secure, securus
= Free of attack, threat
= Being protected

3. International Security
In history “security” (English literature, Greek etc.):
 Ancient Greece
 Middle Ages
 Later – different understanding (USA 1796 and
elsewhere)

4. Old versions of security -
through war and peace
 1920-1930 not ... security term
 war-peace
 war-peace-disarmament (Winston Churchill
disarmament fable)
 Once upon a time all the animals in the Zoo decided that
they would disarm, and they arranged to have a
conference to arrange the matter … (Churchill, 1928)

5. Traditional versions of security - Cold war
 1945 – UN and Security Council
 UN – security organization

6. Traditional versions of security - Cold war
 1945 – James Forestall
 1947 – USA (National Security Act)
 National Security Council (by the act)
 National Security Advisor (further)

7. Traditional versions of security
Cold war
• State and security
• International system and security
• 1951: Security dilemma (arms race)
• 1960-s: Deterrence theory
 rational or irrational game?
 zero-sum game?
 win-win game?
 cooperation?

8. Traditional versions of security - Post-Cold war
Meaning of “security” in 1990’s – when wider?
• Jessica Matthews “Foreign Affairs” (1989) –
demography, environment etc.)?
• The Club of Rome?
• Ostpolitik?

9. Traditional versions of security - Post-Cold war
Meaning of “security” in 1990’s – confusion
• Lack of a new theory of IR (framework)
• “Endism” and “conflict (clash)” of civilizations
• Globalization of security (and problems)

10. Security
Problems of Globalization in 1990s
• “Security – a wide range of problems that worry
people in every possible field of activities”
• military, economics, demography, language,
mushrooms ....
• Up to absurdity ....

11. Security - 21st century
For further information about the slides, please contact
tiiupohl@gmail.com