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Transcript of Professor David J. Francis Head Department of Peace Studies & Director John & Elnora Ferguson Centre...
Understanding Security & the Security Problematic in
Africa
Professor David J. FrancisHead
Department of Peace Studies & Director
John & Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS)University of Bradford
Security matters because:
Important topic, if not, deadly concept in contemporary world politics today
Lens to make sense of world politics and national & Regional Politics & Development issues
Deadly concept because in the NAME of ‘security’, people are killed, raped, tortured, imprisoned, massacred, starved to death & denied access to basic necessities of life
Africa today, most of the violent and anti-democratic actions by Governments and States are JUSTIFIED in the name of Security
Why ‘Security’ matters in Africa?
Security: means different things to different people, agencies, institutions & at different times
Military, Security & Intelligence agencies have a particular understanding of ‘Security’
Politicians, Policy Analysts & Practitioners have different understanding of ‘Security’
Individuals & local communities, depending on their particular circumstances, have different understanding of ‘Security’
Academics have diverse interpretations of ‘Security’:o Barry Buzan, People, States & Fear (1991): 13
different definitionso Alan Collins, Contemporary Security Studies (2007):
9 different definitions
Security: a contested concept
1. Security: political connotation Plays important role in world politics Determines who Get What, When, Why & How Associated with High-Politics Become a powerful political tool used to set agenda: o President G. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ after 9/11o Boko Haram Terrorist threats in Nigeria & West Africao Al Shabbab Terrorist threats & Piracy in Somalia, Horn of Africa & East Africa
2. Security: normative connotation Perceived as a good thing / a public good About protection, feeling safe, stability, order, peace & development Contradictions: attempt to protect some people, groups or states from fear may
produce insecurity & fear in others
3. Security: practical implications ‘Security’ not simply an academic & intellectual pursuit About practical & policy interventions Achieving security for ‘Real People in Real situations’ Changing lives: positive social & political change
Security Connotations
Security is about:1. ‘Condition of being or feeling safe from harm or
danger’ (Terriff et al, 1999)2. Protection, preservation & removal of threats to ‘core
values’ or ‘acquired values: Freedom, religious identity, identity as a nation & way
of life3. ‘Conditions of human existence’, i.e. security is
simply about Survival at state level, societal level, individual
4. More than ‘Survival’ because it is about emancipation (Ken Booth, ‘Security & Emancipation’ 1991)
Defining Security
1. Accumulation of Power: More power one has (i.e. military power)
the more secure Critique: asymmetrical wars, multiple
security threats, terrorism2. Emancipation: Freedom from life determining threats: e.g.
poverty Freedom from FEAR & WANT Preoccupied with Justice & Human Rights
Security: synonymous with 2 things:
Definition of Security What Does It Mean to be Secure?
Oxford University Press, 2007. All rights reserved. Oxford Higher Education
Security Studies is threats to survival but those threats are far reaching
What Threats?
Organised StateViolence
Beyond the State
Paradigm Shift in Defining Security:
From Traditional Military Concept of ‘Security’ to Soft-edged understanding of Security
From State-centric understanding of security to Human Security -Change in Referent Object of Security
‘Securitisation’ of Everything: What type of security are we talking about? Who decides what security means? Who determines the security agenda? ‘Security’ for WHOM, WHAT & for What Purpose? What is to be secured? How can security be achieved? Who pays for Security & at what cost?
Re-defining Security Today
11 Different Conceptions of Security
Traditional Security Non-military Security
1. National Security 2. Common Security /
Co-operative Security3. Security Dilemma4. Security Regime5. Security Community6. Collective Security7. Regional Security
Complex8. International
Security
1. Human Security2. Societal Security3. Global Security
Arguments:
1. Africa demonstrates the limits of traditional & dominant approaches to security:
Traditional approaches to security when applied to Africa fundamentally misrepresents & neglects the everyday realities of multiple Non-military sources of threat to security
2. The State in Africa has become a Source of insecurity & threat to peoples & societies:
Violent & illegal activities of State Military & Security Agencies as well as Corrupt Ruling & Governing Elites
Security in Context of Africa
Understanding the context & nature of security problematic in Africa:
1. Impact & legacies of: Slave trade economy Colonialism & Colonial Rule Cold War Politics Manner of incorporation of African into Global Economy (IDP & IDL) Have all Created fundamental Structural problems All still continue to impact & determine how security is interpreted
& responded to in Africa –E.g. French Colonial Pact in Africa
2. Security threat (s) in Africa not Homogenous or Uniform Different Regions faced with diverse Forms / Sources of threat to
security
3. In context of Africa: Link between Military & Non-military Sources of threat to Security
Non-military Sources of Threat to Security (e.g. Poverty) sometimes escalates into armed conflicts & wars
Non-military dimensions of security have & continue to threaten individual & Societal Security just as National & State Security
Nexus of Security & Development in context of Africa
Security Problematic in Africa: 3 considerations
Security Challenges in Africa TodayMilitary Security
Threats/Traditional Security
Non-Military Threats / Non-Traditional
Security
Wars and Armed Conflicts
Political Violence: e.g. post-election violence in Kenya 2007
Criminal Violence / Transboarder criminal violence
Terrorism / Militant & radical fundamentalism
Narco-violence (Narco-states): Guinea Bissau in West Africa
Natural Disasters: Floods, Famine & Drought
Health/Disease: HIV/AIDs pandemic
Resource scarcity : Water & Land
Environmental Degradation / Climate Change
Poverty & underdevelopment: income & human poverty
Internal Displacement, Forced Migration & Refugees
Poverty: as security threat‘Poverty Amidst Plenty’
Resource Abundance Depressing Social & Development Indicators
Political Economy Indicators –Africa’s abundant Strategic Mineral Resources: 21 plus
Africa’s Collective GDP in 2008 alone was US $1.6 Trillion (roughly equals Brazil or Russia)
Projection of Africa’s Collective GDP by 2012 is US $2.6 Trillion –
10 of the World’s Top 20 Fastest Growing Economies are in Africa: Emerging Lion Economies
Estimated 60% of Population in SSA live on less than US $2 a day
Increasing Youth Unemployment & Joblessness (49.6%) – 60% of Africa 1 Billion Population Comprise Youth
Face of ‘Security’ in Africa Today?
Link between:
Security in Africa: 2 basic freedoms
Freedom From WANT
Freedom From FEAR
Security Challenges in Africa
Military Security Threats
Non-military Security Threats
Oil
Support for Dictatorship
War on Terror
Israel’s National Security
Stability at All Cost
Policy Considerations: Recognition by Military & Security Agencies of
Inextricable LINK between Military Security Threats & Non-military Sources of Threat to Security
National / Regional Security Doctrine & Practice focus on LINK between Military Security Threats & Non-military Sources of Security
Requires Paradigm Shift in Training & Education of National & Regional Military & Security Agencies in Peacetime Democratic Africa
Recognition that long-term National & Regional Peace & Security cannot be achieved & maintained through the barrel of the gun
Responding to Security Challenges in Africa