The Concept of National Security in Understanding Contemporary Conflicts - Term Paper Example

Running Head: THE CONCEPT OF NATIONAL SECURITY IN UNDERSTANDING CONTEMPORARY CONFLICST The Concept of NationalSecurity in Understanding contemporary Conflicts Name: Course: University: Tutor: Date: 418347 The Concept of National Security in Understanding contemporary conflicts Background Study War or armed conflict has been the final auditor in all military institutions. Most military conflicts which are experienced in some parts of the world such as Afghanistan and Iraq among others have raised concern regarding the approach for the contemporary experience. The manner in which people perceive conflicts and wars needs to be dramatically changed through analyzing the current circumstances coupled with understanding of the conflicts history. The creation of wise decisions regarding international military conflicts becomes a result of understanding the continuities as well as the subsequent alterations regarding the features of the concerned conflict. This, in our understanding would help in making of appropriate abilities of the joint forces, education of the military personnel as well as the structure of these forces. This needs to be conducted together with organization and training of the military personnel (McMaster, 2009). To implement these, the first step would be to discard the notion related to the nature of the future wars and international conflicts which are in real sense unrealistic. This kind of future has been believed to have gained some significant acceptance in the past. The quick and easy victory of the US Marine over Iraq in the 1990's gulf war for instance is seen to have lead to military affairs revolution as a result of the competitive advantage to the US if these advancements are something to go by. There has been a general believe that there is no likely hood of having a major rival competitor of the United States military warfare in the near future. This has resulted to several other countries having promise of cheap and fast victory as far as military concepts are concerned. This notion, subsequently has led to reduction of the dependency of the military mighty that has led further to transformation of the department of defense. These transformations of the defense department need consideration of the military's experience in the past conflicts. In the case of the States, its military experience has been characterized by protracted by the countersurgency which is coupled with the countries building. The efforts would call for further reforms in the sector of security of the countries citizens, economic development as well as reconstruction and creation of government capacity building which goes hand in hand with the rule of law creation. Regarding the experiences gained, one needs to have enough experience as well as awareness for the need of abandoning the transformation of the department of defense orthodoxy and subsequently go for the most essential changes which are required in the development and restructuring of the defense to enable sufficient defense for the entire country (McMaster, 2009). The military's development and advancement would be achieved through the approach employed by the authorities in employing the forces to protect the nation's interests. Prior to any major attack, the defense has been put under much scrutiny regarding their abilities to handle the conflict or the contemporary issue. This has been utilized in shallow thinking relating the armed wars involving the, military. This has emerged as a believe which disconnects the conflict from the defense's policy as well as their strategy. Also, there has been a general notion that information technology and surveillance would lead to elevation of the desire of the military to gain the level strategy as well as the desired capabilities to handle every situation facing them. The notion of acknowledgement of an environment that is seen to be strategic while trusting the impacts of the operation of the military in such environments becomes illogic. The results as well as the conduct of any conflict relies on the will of the people to get involved in the conflict, the objectives of the countries authorities as well as the authorities wisdom and consistency between the strategy and the objectives. Problem statement The understanding of contemporary conflicts have led to the general believe that international organizations as well as regimes have created some significant effects on countries behavior and cooperation especially those having international conflicts. This is believed to have been achieved in spite of the countries' different anarchies. Under the same issue, the regimes have been believed to be there through definition. There has been good cooperation where such matters as human rights, collective security responsibilities as well as commerce and economy have been concerned. The instances of this cooperation have emerged s regimes under such cases (Hans, 1995, p. 456). This has been in existence in expense of the desire and the need for employing the military to protect the countries' national security as well as the interests of the said countries. There has been less demonstration of the necessary efforts to strengthen the military to acts on matters of national security effectively. This has been due to the idealization of the flawed vision related to future armed conflicts pertaining the country by stakeholders. The conceptual foundation of establishing joint service forces have not been related to doctrines of future logical projections. Justification Having the necessary understanding of the best theoretical approaches employed in international relations were international conflicts and military war fare are concerned would help the concerned countries in improving the quality of the people's notion of international conflicts as well as small wars. This can also be improved by analysis of the current circumstances concerning these conflicts as well as clear understanding of the conflicts' history. Establishment of the most appropriate decisions regarding contemporary issues and the concept of war would be achieved through the employment of continuities as well as the subsequent improvements concerned with war features. Literature Review Several research papers have been written regarding the Concept of National Security in understanding contemporary conflicts as well as perception of wars and use of the military to protect the interests of the nation. A research paper in 2007 was presented to the Strategic Research and Study Center (SEREM) in Istanbul by one researcher, Rubin Michael. He sought to establish the potential asymmetric threats the United States of America was facing as a military superpower country was facing. Rubin established that the asymmetric threats as well as their subsequent strategies have been there for a long period of time. According to Rubin (2010) some weak forces have been making use of the advanced technology, surprises, military etiquettes violation as well as strategies which have been deemed innovative to make challenges to the might ones. Such asymmetrical threats to the United States of America and any other country which would be in such a position still would continue to be a major threat. These adversaries have created the probability of taking advantage over such might countries. The research concludes that it would become much easier for the strong militaries to become aware of the asymmetrical threats instead of defining them (Ruben, 2010). In the year 2009, a research was carried out by Sennacherib in trial to find out the enhancement of fires as well as maneuvering of the ability of these fire arms through employment of air-ground joint interdependent which are much bigger. Sennacherib's research focused on interdependence, interoperability as well as integration of the air ground (Sennacherib, 2009). Efforts and lesions used in transforming the services in the Far East have raised doctrinal issues as well as technical matters regarding the integration of the air and ground operations of the military. The research indicated that there was need for enhancing joint efforts by altering the airpower in all the essential operations of the military instead of rather than parsing and deconflicting the abilities of the forces (Sennacherib, 2009). Another research by Hall Silsby was carried out in 2007 in trial to find out the theories related to international relations that talks about the current issues and their comprehensive understanding. Silsby focused on the historical information that is necessary in understanding these current matters in the affected areas. The research focus on China as an emerging superpower and its environ. It has addressed the countries effects on its current position globally (Chandler, 2007). The research further addressed the deterrence's stability experienced in Taiwan Strait and security strategies used in Japan while focusing on the future directions and its background. These are matters which were related to the policies of security of the United States of America in regard to the concerned area. In this research, Silsby evaluated the creation of pacifying improvements such as establishment of stronger institutions, economies integration and democratization of the area. More focus was also on the regional security policies that have been in use (Chandler, 2007). This research paper tries to go beyond what other researchers have one by tying to establish if the concept of national security has had any significance in assisting the authorities and the military forces to understand the contemporary issues regarding the armed conflicts as well as the several strategies which are application in thee situation and the respective strengths and weaknesses. Research Methodology Theory Concepts Employed Realism Theory Realism theory is positivist theory that focuses on the power as well as the security of the concerned county or state more than other matters. According to this theory, the states become power-seeking, rational actors and self-centered (Hans, 1995). The theory further asserts that the states are normally ought to maximize their country's national interests as well as security. They also seek to increase the level of survival chances they are having currently. The Use of Realism Theory in the Concept of National Security in Understanding contemporary conflicts. Strategizing Military Operations According to McMaster (2009), the authorities need to find out the most appropriate strategies in order to create more improved planning and execution of the military operations that are usually complicated in their departments. Use of the realism theory would assist us in designing the operations that have comprehensive understanding the enemy as well as the environment in the forces mind. The Need for Counterinsurgency and Stability Operations Understanding the need for the states to become power-seeking, rational actors and self-centered, according to Hans (1995) helps the state in preparing for future situations. There is high possibility of having future conflicts between the military superpowers such the US and armed groups which are employing strategies as well as tactics that are equivalent to the ones experienced in the East. These operations have indicated that the significant battle ground as far as these wars are concerned is the population. There is need to understand the nature of the experienced conflicts. There has also been initial emphasis on the attrition strategy to the more complicated challenges of insurgency. Informaworld (2010) holds that the use of surveillance and technical intelligence has enabled military in their operation to defeating organizations which are networked by launching attacks on their leadership as well as lowering critical abilities. This is an approach which views the enemy as a system which is complicated but can easily collapse when the correct nodes are destroyed. For instance, the approach of raiding to counterinsurgency coupled with the quick Iraq forces generation was believed to boost fast results as well as compensation for the insurgency for the coalition forces which were seen as insufficient initially strategically. In this case the strategy was dictated by resources rather than the other way around. The Need for transformation of the Military Organization The notion of maximizing the country's national interests and security and the desire to increase the level of survival chances they are having currently would assist the security department to improve its shortcomings in their organization and operations. The idea of quality of firsts which is based on the notion of dominant knowledge in future armed conflicts happens to be, to a greater extent, unchallenged (Biddle, 2003). This quality of firsts still continues to offer the main conceptual justification for the military despite being indicated as unrealistic. Some of the contemporary combat experiences have no impact on the military organizations such as the Future Brigade Combat Team (FBCT) and the Brigade Combat Team (BCT). This is largely due to the doctoral concepts which are flawed, coupled with the continued fixation on futuristic experiments used in simulations that are constructive even when the military is getting engaged in these armed conflicts. These are some of the shortcomings of the military which calls for transformation. As per Biddle (2003), in cases where the military just equips itself with self-defense while making the assumption that it will employ information superiority in their self defense and allow the enemy's destruction at some great distance there are high chances of suffering a higher casualty's number especially when they get involved in some of these close combat. In such armed conflicts, the enemy would be making decision which assist the military in finding when how and where to engage in war (Rocke & Fitchitt, 2007). In case a force which is optimized for operations in situations of superiority of information loses communication, it then finds itself being isolated and as well not in a position to get access to fires which are remote. Subsequent ambiguity would necessitate reallocation of sensors as well as the uncalled fro analysis efforts meant to keep off the perils which are linked to unwarranted encounter with the enemy. As most the literature for transformation stresses on imitative, speed and adaptability, the inability of the forces to overcome the force of the enemy in a fight would be predisposing the authorities to chill out for feedback instead of making a resolute action in such situations that are uncertain (Rocke & Fitchitt, 2007). This implies that a military force which ought to have been agile as well as fast would be operating ponderously. Benefits of using Realism Theory McMaster (2009) holds that through this approach, the main objective of the military would therefore be to create the needed measures of their country's national security in addition to defeating the unseen enemy. This would also help them in creating a wide range of operations for achieving the desires as well as objectives of the authorities. The government's civilian sectors have the obligation of expanding their operations as well as capabilities in order to establish good local governance, institutional capacity, necessary environments needed for subsequent growth and development, efficient police force that would relieve the military of these operations that they have been engaging themselves in. Limitations of the Using Realism Theory As the theory asserts that the states are out to maximize their country's national interests as well as security and also seek to increase the level of survival chances they are having currently, the security department through application of this theory have found it self having some short comings (Dunlap, 2006). The military, in spite of engaging itself in armed conflicts for several years under situations which run counter to the defense transformation has found it self in a hard situation to break away from this wrongheaded perception. Military brigade organizations which are engineered using simulations of computer in order to make validation of smaller and lighter as well as more efficient military organization that is in apposition to act see and understand fast hence finish decisively has not received thorough and the needed significant revision. Conclusion Time has come for the defense department to discard the flawed idealized perception of future armed conflicts as well as the believes which underpin these assumptions. There is need for new doctrines which are based on logical projects into futures war. These doctrines ought to provide the conceptual framework for the forces re-design. There is also the need for both the military and civil leaders in the defense department to have consensus regarding intellectual responsibilities instead of contradicting each other. The stakeholders need to put to an end the flawed vision related to armed conflicts in future. The conceptual foundation for establishment of the joint service forces needs to be based on projections of doctrines which are believed to be logical for use in the future. In this case the military need to be designed in a way that they can operate under conditions of uncertainty and as well achieve the desired effectiveness under such conditions. Such strategies would be like baring redundancy at a higher level (McMaster, 2009). The military review in relation to design and strengthening needs to be done occasionally. This needs to be done in relation to the contemporary conflicts as well as historical experiences. The contradiction of intellectual responsibilities of the military and other departments of the government and the civilians in relation to the matters of military extra obligations need to come to an end (Deptula, 1997). There is a lot of disparity between the army forces foundation and the contemporary experiences which demands a clear designing of the whole defense organization. The creation of more of the same BCTs with the growth of the military in strength, the authority have the obligation of carrying out a comprehensive review of these re-designs as well as the necessary strengthening of these organizations regarding the contemporary experiences. The effectiveness of the current forces especially the US Marine in the east (Iraq and Afghanistan) have been significantly contributed by several new technologies as well as spin outs gotten from acquisition programs. There is a big need to pursue innovations and technological modernizations within the military forces with an undying vigor. Comprehending both the limitations as well as the capabilities of these technologies would be necessary in changing the forces' future (Allard, 1996). Recommendations McMaster (2008) indicates that the contemporary ongoing experience of war time has discredited the perception which underpins the transformation of the defense department in the earlier years. Preparing for future armed conflict would need learning from the experiences from the past ones and the need to improve or adjust the authorities thinking in regard to armed conflicts. There is need to contemporary development of idealized visions for wars to come which would be consistent with the previous conflicts experiences and what these wars or conflicts have indicated; the enduring uncertainty as well as complexity of these conflicts or war. Rocke & Fitchitt (2007) claim that the needed concepts need to be fighting-centric instead of knowledge centric. This implies that they ought to be based on the actual as well as the potential threats facing the country as a whole, addressed by the contemporary experience of combating these situations and experiences. They also need to be well connected to the scenarios which control the forces toward the attainment of the goals of the policy as well as the overall objects of the department in providing security for the state (McMaster, 2008). This calls for the need to re-design and establish forces which are balanced and having the capabilities of carrying out consistent operations with the developed concepts. Biddle (2003) holds that most of the factors which undermine situation of uncertainty in most armed conflicts happen to be land-based. They usually offer challenges which the best technology offers incomplete answers. It is a fact that in the same land where people are living, political, cultural and social factors do interact with geography as well as the determined enemies who create the situations of uncertainty. This implies that the military and the defense department ought to be prepared to get involved in war and eventually win even in such conditions of uncertainty. References Allard, K. 1996. The Information Revolution and National Security: Dimensions and Directions. Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic and International Studies. Biddle, S.2003. Afghanistan and the Future of Warfare: Implications for Army and Defense Policy. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://www.globalsecurity.org Chandler, D. 2007. International Relations: Theoretical perspectives. London: Wells Street, Centre for the Study of Democracy. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://www.davidchandler.org/pdf/teaching/CSD06-07Internationalrelations1guide.pdf Deptula, I. 1997. Air and Space Power going Forward. New York: Springer Dunlap, C. 2006. America Asymmetrical Advantage. New York: Springer Dorband, J. 2008. World Regions and International Relations towards a Theoretical Framework from a Geographic Perspective. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p251018_index.html Hans, K. 1995. Democracy and the International Rule of Law. New York: Springer. p. 245 Informaworld. 2010. All Titles of Subject Contemporary Conflict. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200810.mcmaster.contemporaryconflictsfuturewar.html McMaster, H. 2009.Learning from contemporary conflicts for prepare for future War. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://www.fpri.org/enotes/200810.mcmaster.contemporaryconflictsfuturewar.html Rocke, M & Fitchitt, D. 2007. Establishing Strategic Vectors: Charting a Path for Army Transformation. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from www.ausa.org/pdfdocs/special/may07.pdf Ruben, M. 2010. Asymmetrical threat concept and its reflections on international security. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://www.meforum.org/1696/asymmetrical-threat-concept-and-its-reflections Sennacherib 2009. Enhancing Fires and Maneuver Capability through Greater Air- Ground Joint Interdependence. Retrieved on March 10, 2010 from http://spengler.atimes.net/viewtopic.phpp=340978&sid=c83ab2ab938059aa4672364e61ccafd8 Read More