“What Is the Security Dilemma and What Factors Exacerbate It?”
200483913
PIED2558 Security Studies
“What is the security dilemma and what factors exacerbate it?”
Word Count: 3,227
S. Raszewski
“The greatest war in history can be produced without the intervention of any great criminals who might be out to do deliberate harm in the world. It could be produced between two powers, both of which were desperately anxious to avoid a conflict of any sort.” (Butterfield, 1951: 19–20)
The security dilemma is one of the most important theoretical ideas in international relations and security studies. In this essay I shall attempt to give a brief explanation of the security dilemma, including some of its history and main points, give a summary of factors that exacerbate it and then show some practical examples of those factors. In practical terms I 'll look at modern history as well as ways the security dilemma could affect us in the future.
The Security Dilemma is a term coined by John H. Herz (1959), and also refers to a theory put forward around the same time by Herbert Butterfield (1951) which covers the same topic. Though the theories differ in the way fear affects the situation (Wheeler, Booth, 2008; 135) and whether the security dilemma is all pervasive (Tang, 2009; 591), in basic understanding they both describe a "two-level strategic predicament in relations between states and other actors, with each level consisting of two related dilemmas [...] which force decision-makers to choose between them" (Wheeler, Booth, 2008; 133), the first of those dilemmas is one of interpretation of "about the motives, intentions and capabilities of others" (Wheeler, Booth, 2008; 133) the second is one of how to react to the initial interpretation. This is a threat to security because, for instance, the wrong interpretation of an act, which may have been intended as non-aggressive, could result in a violent reaction from another state that is not desired by either side. Jervis states that a security dilemma exists when "many of the
PIED2558 Security Studies
“What is the security dilemma and what factors exacerbate it?”
Word Count: 3,227
S. Raszewski
“The greatest war in history can be produced without the intervention of any great criminals who might be out to do deliberate harm in the world. It could be produced between two powers, both of which were desperately anxious to avoid a conflict of any sort.” (Butterfield, 1951: 19–20)
The security dilemma is one of the most important theoretical ideas in international relations and security studies. In this essay I shall attempt to give a brief explanation of the security dilemma, including some of its history and main points, give a summary of factors that exacerbate it and then show some practical examples of those factors. In practical terms I 'll look at modern history as well as ways the security dilemma could affect us in the future.
The Security Dilemma is a term coined by John H. Herz (1959), and also refers to a theory put forward around the same time by Herbert Butterfield (1951) which covers the same topic. Though the theories differ in the way fear affects the situation (Wheeler, Booth, 2008; 135) and whether the security dilemma is all pervasive (Tang, 2009; 591), in basic understanding they both describe a "two-level strategic predicament in relations between states and other actors, with each level consisting of two related dilemmas [...] which force decision-makers to choose between them" (Wheeler, Booth, 2008; 133), the first of those dilemmas is one of interpretation of "about the motives, intentions and capabilities of others" (Wheeler, Booth, 2008; 133) the second is one of how to react to the initial interpretation. This is a threat to security because, for instance, the wrong interpretation of an act, which may have been intended as non-aggressive, could result in a violent reaction from another state that is not desired by either side. Jervis states that a security dilemma exists when "many of the
Bibliography: Butterfield, H. 1951. History and Human Relations Butterfield. (Indiana University; Colins 1951) Fischer, Fritz Fromkin, D. 2004. Europe’s Last Summer: Who Started the Great War in 1914? (New York: Vintage Books, 2004) Herz, JH, 1951 Glaser, CL. 1997. The Security Dilemma Revisted. World Politics. 50 (1), pp. 171 Jervis, R Molder, H. 2006. Cooperation Under The Security Dile NATO’s Role in the Post-Modern European Security Environment, Cooperative Security and the Experience of the Baltic Sea Region. Baltic Security & Defence Review. 8 (1), pp. 7-33 Roe, P