Rankings on the Global Security Matrix

The rankings I proposed for the Global Security Matrix are the result of my interpretation of global security threats. The key levels to consider here vary depending on the threat that is being considered. Due to the word limit, I will focus on the rankings which I considered most important and why.
Firstly, I considered info war to be a pressing issue not only on the human and network level, but also on a global level. The class average relatively agreed with me my opinion in regards to its human and network importance but disagreed on the global level. Thus I find it relevant to support my reasoning. Just as the individual and the networks are affected by the various issues and misinformation presented by info war, the global community as a whole is affected by how this ongoing war shifts and molds what should be on our minds at a global level. This ongoing battle of information and disinformation has affects the human population on a global scale. It sways opinions and imperatives; it manipulates awareness, which are crucial for action and cooperation in the modern day. This affects the economy, the environment, politics, beliefs, and prejudices globally as seen through global news programs and the like. The growing power of the media, unless checked, will eventually have many more global influences than it already has. Influences that will have a very powerful effect on what the popular opinion may be. Already commercials and media programs will attempt to persuade me to purchase an item that although portrayed as great and useful, which may also seriously harm the environment. Maybe it promotes secretly the cutting down the Amazon or it adds to global warming because of how it is manufactured. Regardless of what the type of impact it brings about, promotions and commercials propagate these industries, which in turn have other effects that could have global consequences. Thus, not only does the info war affect and sway opinions and beliefs, but it can also consequently affect and promote other factors that can affect the world globally as well.
I also considered the environment and resource conflict to be a state, system, and global concern, a view supported by the class average. Clearly, with the massive needs of the various states and industries, a drain on the environment has resulted. The use and dependency on nonrenewable resources and careless production methods has resulted in phenomena such as Global Warming and an addiction to oil. It is evident these issues need to be dealt with or in the future the planet we depend on to survive will very negatively affected in ways that will affects mankind worldwide. On a state and system level countries need these resources to run and systems at the economic level operate by trading and supplying these resources. Thus this issue is vital at all those levels.
I also found warfare to be a serious issue for states. Even though the concept of war adapts and changes it is still a serious issue to states in whatever form it chooses to manifest itself. Whether it is a war with terrorism or with another state, it is still a threat. War between a state and terrorism, as the United States proclaims to be in right now, can result in problems that go beyond the initial response to the terrorist attack. A lack of focus on other more important security issues can result, and since your troops are deployed elsewhere because of the country’s “war on terror,” they are not available to respond to other more serious issues that may result. As a result the country’s resources, both monetary and military would be consumed by a conflict that can affect the state’s security not because of the direct enemy the war is fighting but the more serious issue that may come about while your resources are misplaced.

Posted by Ivan Maldonado on October 1, 2006 11:55 AM | Permalink

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