HEALTH PANDEMICS
Diseases such Hiv/Aids and most recently Ebola has led many nations to give more attention to health security. President barrack Obama declared that the Ebola outbreak is a threat to global security as he announced a larger U.S. role in fighting the virus. He added that the outbreak required global response therefore he announced some measures like ordering 3000 U.S troops to the region and building new health facilities to fight the virus. President Obama called on other nations to step up their response as a worsening outbreak would lead to profound political, economic and security implications for the world (BBC News, 2016). This announcement came as the united nations called the outbreak a health crisis unparalleled in modern times.
The Ebola virus which claimed thousands of lives in west Africa was discovered in guinea and then spread to its neighbouring countries like Liberia and sierra Leon whom where the worst hit. several other cases were reported in Nigeria, Senegal, mail, the United Kingdom, united states, Sardinia and Spain. The world health organization reported a total of 28,637 suspected cases and 11,315 deaths as at 27 December (World Health Organization, 2016).
Since the outbreak the centre for disease control and prevention (CDC) has reportedly carried out the most intensive response in the agency’s history with the deployment of thousands of staffs to Aid countries battling with the virus. The unparalleled and unprecedented epidemic of Ebola virus shows the need for much stronger systems of disease surveillance, response and prevention worldwide. According to the CDC if the response by states in west Africa and global assistance had been carried out on time, quicker and more effectively, there would have been fewer deaths and less social and economic disruption.
The CDC recorded that they encountered some challenges in the affected states that they were deployed to. These challenges included limited electronic connectivity, insufficient numbers of trained staff, the inability to move rapidly enough to provide needed case detection, lack of educated personnel’s, poor contact tracing methodologies, poorly functioning national/public health system, poor health infrastructural facilities and unpaid staffs who were poorly supervised (Frieden and Damon, 2015).
Assuming the countries of Guinea, Liberia and sierra loan had effective surveillance and containment systems put in place before the outbreak, they would have easily been able to detect and prevent the spread of the virus accurately. Also if there were more awareness programmes provided by the government and more educated personnel, it would have been easier to curtail the spread of the virus as most individuals did not have proper knowledge of the virus and as such the spread was rapid.
In Uganda where the CDC and other organizations have invested in their public health for years, cases such as the Ebola virus and Marburg virus were promptly diagnosed. The infection control and contact tracing were quickly implemented and the outbreaks rapidly stopped or prevented. Similarly, in Nigeria there was an effective and rapid response to the virus which was due to increased awareness programmes and transparency by the government. The effectiveness at which the Nigerian government handled the Ebola case shows the importance of investing in core public health infrastructure and training of epidemiologists which was set up through the country’s FETP program which is also highly needed in states around the world (Frieden and Damon, 2015).
Hiv/Aids which has led to the infection of 60 million people and death of over 20 million people (Elbe, 2002, p159) is also a major security concern. According to Elbe the Hiv/Aids epidemic has largely diminished the operational efficiency of many African countries and their armed forces. the rate of the disease among the African military exceeds the civilian population by a factor of two to five. Elbe argues that the reason for this is because soldiers are recruited at the peak of their sexually active age and also separated from their family’s for a long period of time. They are prone to indulge in more unprotected sexual relations as way to relive themselves from the stress of combat (Elbe,2002, p.163).
It’s stated that Aids is in some cases the primary cause of death in the military (Singer,2002, p.152). The epidemic also affects the soldier’s ability to carry out their duties which results in increased emotional trauma, absenteeism, reduced morale and effectiveness in their performance (Elbe,2002, p.165). Aids threatens not just the military but the whole state as the disease spreads and becomes ever more pervasive, it destroys the very fibre of what constitute a nation; Individuals, families and communities, economic and political institutions, military and police force (Singer,2002, p.149). These illustrations show the importance of focusing on the health sector rather than prioritizing nuclear weapons. It also shows the importance of international organizations such as the world health organizations and the centre for disease control and prevention which offer help and assistance to less developed countries in scenarios such as the Ebola case.
TRANSNATIONAL ORGANIZED CRIMES and GANG VIOLENCE
Organized crime has increased significantly in recent years and has been recognized for its inherently trans-border and global nature. The sovereignty of states are now challenged by powers directly or indirectly connected with transnational crimes. In an attempt to combat these threat states have set up many judicial and institutional polices to curb their activities. According to the united nations office on drugs and crime (UNODC) transnational organized crime threatens peace, human security, violates human rights and undermines economic, social, cultural, political and civil developments of societies around the world (Unodc.org, n.d.). Transnational organized crimes takes many forms such as trafficking of drugs, fire arms and persons as well the exploitation of human mobility to smuggle migrants and undermine financial systems through money laundering.
These acts generate profit for the culprits and results in high loss for the individuals who fall victim. The UNODC records that countless people lose their lives to these criminals through drug-related health problems or injuries caused by firearms as well as losing their lives as result of the unethical measures and motives of human traffickers and smugglers of migrants (Unodc.org, n.d.). The actions of these transnational criminals has led many to undermine the capacity of the state; by this, there has been reason to doubt the strength of states to handle this evolving problem putting into question the basis and relevance of the realist approaches to security studies.
A case study can be seen in Mexico which to a great degree has been linked with drug trafficking and extreme violence due to the war on drugs announced by president Felipe Calderon in 2006. This has caused conflict between the state and the drug traffickers. The border shared between Mexico and the united states was the major cause of the problem as it had its pros and cons. it allowed for Mexico to receive aids and trade but was a strong lodestone for drug trafficking and smuggling across the U.S. The violence of 2006 has led to an average of 10,000 organized crime related murders infringement of human rights by the military and increased pressures from the Mexican military; which drove armed conflict with cartels out of periodically violent regions into new areas (Mcgee, 2013, p4). According to Mcgee, this is one of the many reasons why the drug trafficking organizations are winning the psychological war with increased violence despite quantitative evidence of government progress. The realist approach to security contains many weaknesses here as he (Mcgee) asserts that the military takes the lead in the war against the drug trafficking organisations out of necessity but does not posit a solution to the root problem. Mexico needs to reform and stop it’s more than hundreds separate state and municipal police forces. This reformation came as a result of the corruption and human rights violations carried out by the military. Such methods used in combating these criminals are outdated and applying such philosophies in a changing globalizing world will not battle the drug trafficking organizations properly.
A case study in ciudad Juarez shows human rights infractions in the story of victor Ramon longoria an identified suspect said to have been involved with a carjacking and possessing illegal guns. His house was raided by the police without a warrant and he was taken to the station where he was brutally beaten, however, he was innocent. Along with human rights victor’s legal rights were broken (McGee, 2013, p.6). This shows that the military isn’t using their power and privileges in the right manner, because the militaries job is to protect its citizens and enforce the law. This creates a dynamic problem because the military forces think they’re fighting enemies when they are not. With the recorded deaths of over 10,000, the realist approaches to security with of the use of military force as a form solution has not only increased insecurity amongst its citizens but may prevent them from believing that reclaiming their state sovereignty from these cartels is an achievable prospect.
It is important to note that Drug trafficking organizations spread across the Mexican borders. The Mexican and U.S. business has lasted for nearly a century with Mexican drug trafficking organizations having their routes expanded overseas. for instance, there was a recent discovery of a trade route from Mexico through the United states to Australia; millions of dollars are moved Australia to the united states to buy cocaine then moved back to Australia. This represents the collaborations of three different countries with Mexico as the providing country, Chicago serving as the transport point and Australia as the buyer.
This undermines the realist approach to security, it fails in justifying the military approach to human rights violation and also fails in accounting for non-state actors such drug trafficking organizations and the expanding of their reach over their borders.
THE ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE
The environmental impact connected with climate change affects the state and the international system as a whole. According to Klare (2007) global climate change poses a serious threat because it will imperil food production around the world. It will also make largely populated areas become uninhabitable and endanger the lives of millions. It will lead to mass starvation as a result of persistent drought, humanitarian disasters caused by severe hurricane and in turn war (Klare,2007, p.1). The economic cost of unchecked global warming will be extremely severe (Bales and Duke, 2008). Canada is already experiencing the effects of climate change with insect infestations, forest fires, floods droughts, melting ice, permafrost destroying roads and buildings. It will also affect animal and plant life. All of these reflect the devastating impact of global warming on the Canadian landscape (Canada.com, 2005).
Recognizing the harmful effects caused by climate change, states have now sought to come together to proffer solutions to this evolving problem. The United States have called for other nations like china which is currently the highest emitter to reduce their carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses emission into the atmosphere.
According to Jon Barnett the military are the major emitters of greenhouses gases. He states that the U.S. armed forces emit 210 million metric tons of CO2. with respect to this the military is a problem rather than a solution to the environment. furthermore, Barnett asserts that the state-centric nature of the realist approaches to security are incapable of meeting the challenges and providing solutions posed by climate change. He suggests that disarmament, budgetary reallocations and active creative involvement in world politics are important policy responses in dealing with climate change (Barnett, 2003, p8).
The united nations climate change conferences embody the many steps taken to address climate change issues. It is held under the frame work of the united nations convention on climate change. the Kyoto protocol treaty and most recently the Paris conference of 2015 devotes states to reducing their greenhouse gas emission. with 195 countries adopting the first ever universal legal binding global climate deal the Paris agreement set out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid the dangers of climate change by limiting global warming below 2°c (Ec. europa.eu, 2015).
CONCLUSION
The successful export of liberalism by the U.S. through democracy promotion, international organizations and international trade has encouraged many nations to liberalise their economies and follow the footsteps of the united states. though democracy promotion has been successful it is not without critics as the united states faced a back lash following the Iraq war which led many to question if democracy promotion is just a way of protecting western interest or form of ideological brain wash by the U.S.
Also there were many thoughts of double standards with regards to the Arab spring as both the US and the EU supported the regimes of Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and at the same called for the expansion of global democratic progress in other parts of the world. Non the less, it is still without doubt that liberalism is self-reinforcing, self-justifying and self-sustaining as it brings about prosperity amongst all nations. Emphasis has shifted from great power rivalry and military focus to countries working together to promote peace and development.
The threat posed by Environmental security has now over throne the threat of nuclear warfare, both having the same features are global in reach and their impacts are both disastrous. with this it is clearly evident that realist approaches are not equipped to handle these new threats, as they have now become obsolete and old fashioned. The best to be said about the realist approaches to security is the help it rendered in understanding how states interacted before 1990 but with the end of the cold war it is completely useless now and largely irrelevant today.