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CIAO DATE: 09/04
Re-Conceptualization of Soft Security and Turkey's Civilian Contributions to International Security
Ugur Ziyal
The demise of the Soviet bloc not only marked the end of the Cold War, but also led to fundamental paradigm shifts in the international system which was predominantly formulated by the victors of the Second World War. One of the defining characteristics of the post-Cold War era has been globalization. Though this is not a totally new phenomenon, coupled with the effects of technological development and high-speed communication, it has had a tremendous impact on peoples and states, as well as on military doctrines and international security. Moreover, the effects engendered by globalization have, by definition, pros and cons.
As a consequence of these developments, theories of international relations are being revisited and there is an abundance of new concepts, as the field of international relations undergoes re-conceptualization process. In this process, practical aspects of interaction of states, non-state actors and other players in international relations have once again become issues of debate.
Paul Kennedy is known for his analysis of the dilemma that states face in developing a viable military policy. The dilemma he referred to is about the choice between guns and/or butter and investment. One can argue that this has been a continuous dilemma for contemporary policy makers. To what extent should governments allocate funds to develop military capabilities? Given the scarcity of resources, should military budgets be decreased and greater emphasis placed on economic investment? How can the optimum balance; if any; be attained? In theory, answers to these questions basically hinge on how governments perceive the concepts of "national interest," "mutual interest" and "common interest." Answers to these questions may also require a choice between hard and soft security policy instruments as potential tools for furthering interests. Indeed, even states which are members of the same organization, adopt different approaches and act on the basis of different priorities.