What is traditional security

 Traditional Security

Traditional security refers to the conventional understanding of security that primarily focuses on the protection of a state's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence from external military threats. Rooted in the realist school of international relations, traditional security is fundamentally state-centric, emphasizing the role of the military, strategic alliances, and defense policies to ensure national safety and survival.

In traditional security, the state is considered the principal actor, and threats are mostly perceived as coming from outside its borders. These include aggression from foreign states, territorial invasions, military occupations, border conflicts, and arms races. The core aim is to safeguard the nation from foreign attacks or domination through preparedness, deterrence, and the use of armed force when necessary.

One of the central features of traditional security is the concept of national interest, where securing the physical survival of the state becomes the highest priority. To achieve this, states often build strong military capabilities, form strategic alliances (such as NATO), and develop nuclear arsenals for deterrence, especially during periods of heightened tension like the Cold War. Military strength and strategic superiority are often equated with national security under this model.

Throughout history, many global events have been shaped by traditional security concerns. For instance, both World Wars, the Cold War, and the India-Pakistan conflicts were driven by power politics, military buildup, and efforts to defend or expand territorial boundaries. In each case, national governments prioritized defense spending, military alliances, and strategic positioning to counter perceived threats.

Traditional security often treats international politics as a zero-sum game—where one state’s gain in power is perceived as another state’s loss. This outlook encourages suspicion and competition, leading to arms races and military conflicts. It also assumes that peace can be maintained only through a balance of power or by achieving military dominance.

However, critics argue that traditional security is too narrow and outdated in the modern world. While it addresses the external military threats effectively, it largely ignores non-military threats such as poverty, health crises, environmental degradation, and internal social unrest—all of which can equally undermine a nation's stability. For example, a country may be militarily secure but still face severe insecurity due to internal communal violence or lack of access to food and healthcare.

Despite its limitations, traditional security continues to play a significant role in global politics. Military preparedness, border security, and defense policies remain important components of national agendas, especially in geopolitically sensitive regions. In many countries, defense expenditure still constitutes a major part of national budgets, reflecting the ongoing relevance of traditional security concerns.

In conclusion, traditional security emphasizes the survival of the state against external military threats, focusing on defense, deterrence, and strategic power. While essential in many historical and contemporary contexts, its narrow scope has led to the emergence of broader concepts like human security, which recognize the importance of protecting individuals and communities from a wider array of threats in today’s interconnected and interdependent world.