Security dilemma

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The security dilemma describes a paradoxical situation in which the insistence of several states on their security interests and their corresponding action ultimately leads to increased political instability. Under certain circumstances this behavior leads to wars, so that the outcome of the situation contradicts the intention of all actors involved to create more security. The dilemma of those involved, on the other hand, is that if there is a lack of communication, this result can only be avoided by one of the participating states giving in, although there are no compelling chances of success for this behavior.

The American political scientist John H. Herz conceived the concept of the security dilemma, while the problem on which the concept is based is already indicated in the writings of Immanuel Kant . When researching the phenomenon, international relations sometimes fall back on game theory, which relates primarily to the prisoner's dilemma .

The arms race is a prominent expression of the security dilemma .

Theory development

The theory of political realism describes the anarchy of the world of states, which is based on formal lack of power and the lack of a superordinate regulatory power and formal hierarchy with a monopoly of a world state on the use of force in the international system. The states are thus in a self-help system in which national protection needs are represented either individually, in the form of alliances or alliances vis-à-vis other states. Regardless of the actual intention to maintain one's own status, this inevitably leads to a feeling of threat on the part of the respective opposing side and thus to increasing mutual military armament.

Herz took up this theory, but did not use the classic justification of political realism - the striving for power that is inherent in every human being - but justified the anarchy of the world of states with the competition of social systems. Human nature played no role in his remarks. Kenneth Waltz , co-founder of neorealism , continued Herz's idea of ​​the security dilemma and expanded it to a national level. According to Waltz, the security dilemma also exists in the economy and in nation states, but there it can be controlled by the superordinate regulatory power and the state's monopoly of force.

Possible solutions

Immanuel Kant, who is considered one of the fathers of liberal theory , proposed a federal peace alliance as a solution to the problem , which, however, only functions between republics, righteousness in peace agreements, disarmament and international visiting rights. With his writings he also laid the foundation stone for democratic peace , according to which the dilemma can also be overcome with increasing democratization of world society.

Proponents of realism and neorealism consider the security dilemma to be fundamentally unsolvable, as the higher-level sanctioning authority is still missing in the international system. The regime theory recognizes the existence of the dilemma in principle and postulates that it can be overcome through increasing regulation of the international system and increasing cooperation between the actors.

Examples

The most important examples from the recent past are the military alliance structures during the Cold War , NATO and the Warsaw Pact . The political security of the respective alliances and their members was secured through military strength as part of the arms race . Although the armament was only intended to serve defense, it was perceived as a threat by the political opponent, who in turn caught up, that is, helped arm. The original goal of increasing security led to a heightened feeling of insecurity as the subjective threat posed by a higher number of weapons was heightened.

literature

  • Erik Antoncyk, The Security Dilemma . In: Susanne Feske , Eric Antonczyk, Simon Oerding (Eds.), Introduction to International Relations. A textbook . Budrich, Opladen 2014, ISBN 978-3-86649-257-8 , pp. 247-252.
  • Martin List, Maria Behrens, Wolfgang Reichardt International Politics. Problems and basic terms Opladen 1995, ISBN 3-8100-1228-9
  • John Herz, Idealistic Internationalism and the Security Dilemma , in: ders., Staatswelt und Weltpolitik , Hamburg 1974, pp. 39–56.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ulrich Menzel : Between idealism and realism. The doctrine of international relations. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 2001, p. 17 f.
  2. ↑ See Tobias Bevc: Political Theory, Konstanz: UVK Verlagsgesellschaft, 2007, p. 231
  3. ↑ Gert Krell , Weltbilder und Weltordnung, introduction to the theory of international relations, 3rd expanded edition, Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2004, p. 156f.
  4. ↑ Kenneth Waltz , Theory of International Politics, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, 1979.
  5. ↑ See Tobias Bevc: Political Theory, Konstanz: UVK Verlagsgesellschaft, 2007, p. 233.
  6. ↑ Immanuel Kant: For Eternal Peace (1795) available online