Question

How are the traditional sources of threats different from the new sources of threats to security ? Explain.

Hint:

Compare under nature, source, focus and remedy.
Traditional threats are military; new ones include terrorism, disease and poverty.

Answer 1

Step 1: Meaning:
Traditional threats are mainly military threats from other countries. New sources of threat are non-military and need not come from states.

Step 2: Difference 1: Nature of the threat:
Traditional: the main danger is war, when a country uses force against another.
New: the dangers are terrorism, epidemics, poverty, climate change and human rights violations.

Step 3: Difference 2: Source:
Traditional: the threat comes from another state.
New: the threat often comes from groups or conditions that do not belong to one state, such as terror groups or disease.

Step 4: Difference 3: Focus and response:
Traditional: the focus is on the safety of borders and the state, met with force, alliance, deterrence and arms control.
New: the focus is on the safety of people, met with global cooperation.

Step 5: Difference 4: Scope:
Traditional: affects mostly the countries in conflict.
New: affects people across the globe and cannot be solved by one country alone.

Final Answer:
Traditional threats are military and state based and are met by force, while new threats such as terrorism, health and poverty are non-military and need global cooperation.