Critique of Global Security Matrix

The Global Security Manifesto presents a clear and complete analysis of the threats facing humans, states, networks, systems and the globe as a whole. The structure of the Matrix allows a participant to clearly follow the more traditional threats to security, such as warfare, to the more modern constructions of fear, such as information war. The Manifesto offers detailed explanations of each threat as well as explaining the actors in global society. The examples it introduces, also provide the participant with background knowledge, which will inevitably help them pursue their own conclusions as to which threats constitute the greatest danger. With this knowledge a participant will be better able to rank particular threats to security on a personal, state, system, network and global basis. Although I think the Matrix Manifesto is very straightforward, there may be certain areas of overlap. For instance, while I think resource conflict is a threat to security, this conflict usually manifests itself in warfare or terrorism, and therefore could be included in either one of these particular areas of the Matrix. This is true for infowar as well. Although these threats to international security are prominent in the current system, the primary threat, in my opinion, to individuals, states, systems, networks and the globe as a whole, is still warfare. States exist in a constant state of competition and while these other threats can motivate fighting among states, the primary threat to the international system is warfare. I think that it is important to include the Environment in the Global Security Matrix because its abuse is increasingly becoming a danger to the world as a whole. I think Resource conflict is very tied to the Environment. If humans did not abuse the environment, reource conflict would certainly be less of a concern in international relations. I am, however, not that clear on how Resource conflict affects particular actors of the Global Security Matrix, such as networks or systems, so perhaps it does warrant its own category in the Security grid. All together, though, I do think the Manifesto provides a descriptive analysis of the threats facing the world today.

Posted by Allison Wright on September 30, 2006 08:03 PM | Permalink

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