Critique of Global Security Matrix

While the Global Security Manifesto gives us some substance by which we can begin to look at the individual components of security threats, the categories themselves seem almost a telling sign about how one can not divide such things into categories. It is only by necessity of analysis that threats are attempted to be contained into neat subdivisions, allowing for some spillover and blurring to occur, but still differentiated. Without this starting point it would almost be impossible to begin an analysis of the components and mix of components that make up the global security matrix. I believe that the Global Security Manifesto goes to lengths to explain how the divisions are hard to make, even more so as technology, and as different actors multiply on the global scene. Knowing this, it is easier to understand how the need to model global threats, and the reality of the issue may not match up so perfectly.
In section 4.3, resource conflicts are described as one potential security threat. I think that it is important to note that sometimes there is not a direct causal link between the threat that lack of resources pose and the individuals who are affected. In other words, intermediate actors such as political entrepreneurs who gain access to these resources, can use them to their persuasive benefit. Especially in areas of decentralized government, these actors can make sure than any accountability that would otherwise be held to the state, is given to them. The political power gained by exerting control over resources can have vast consequence, and this persuasive power can ultimately be one of the most substantial threats which originates from resource scarcity.
Infowar, as discussed in section 4.8, is a threat, but ultimately not from any subjective observational stance. The shaping of discourse, the pushing of certain topics and issues to the margins, our inability to receive proper information on how our government forms its policies, why we are at war etc., is all done without our knowledge and so may be a threat but not one we can succinctly point to. We may know that information is dominated and monopolized by the state, and/or by a narrow subset of media actors, but we don’t know what information, what sort of a threat it poses, and how it will effect us personally or everyone globally.
While some may not agree, I think it is important to note under section 4.4, Terrorism and Crime, the threat that originates from the economic necessity of illegal trade. The fact that unaccounted for wealth which streams from illegal trade of small, low weight goods such as drugs, or from illegal trade of people and body parts, props up a good portion of our global debt and economy makes the threat all the more permanent and hard to rid of. It is basically greasing the wheels of the global market and making sure that the economy keeps going. Taking this in to consideration, one can generate a few ideas why opium production in Iraq is at its highest even though the U.S. is trying its hardest to police things around there. Just a thought.

Posted by Samantha Munro on October 1, 2006 09:26 AM | Permalink

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