Is terrorism a traditional or non-traditional threat to security?
Terrorism is a non-traditional threat to security. Unlike traditional threats that involve military threats from other countries targeting a state's sovereignty and territorial integrity, terrorism refers to political violence that targets civilians deliberately and indiscriminately.
Terrorist groups are non-state actors who use force or threat of force to change political contexts they dislike. They choose civilian targets to terrorise the public and use public unhappiness as a weapon against national governments. This makes terrorism distinct from traditional state-centric military threats.
Dealing with terrorism requires cooperative security where the international community collectively sanctions the use of force against international terrorists, which aligns with the non-traditional security approach.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly distinguishes between traditional and non-traditional threats. Traditional threats are military threats from other states that endanger sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Non-traditional threats go beyond military threats to include various dangers affecting human existence. Terrorism, involving political violence by non-state actors targeting civilians, fits the non-traditional category. The context also mentions that dealing with international terrorists through cooperative security aligns with non-traditional security approaches.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Identify the definition of traditional threats - military threats from other states
Step 2: Identify the definition of non-traditional threats - threats beyond military, affecting human existence
Step 3: Analyze terrorism - political violence by non-state actors targeting civilians
Step 4: Conclude that terrorism is non-traditional as it involves non-state actors and requires cooperative international response