EIRP Proceedings, Vol 10 (2015)

Security Components of Globalization

Florin Iftode¹

Abstract: The objective of this paper is our intention to present what are the main connections between globalization and international security. In terms of global security we can perceive the globalization as a process by which global state is represented by the UN, with a single world system, represented by major security organizations and with global effects. We will present from the beginning the main theoretical aspects that define the phenomenon of globalization, and then our contribution in assessing the implications of this phenomenon on the regional and global security. The results of our research are materialized in the last part of the paper. They emphasize the personal assessments on how the phenomenon of globalization has direct effect on global security. When talking about government, we think of norms, rules and decision-making procedures in the management of international life. The value that we add to the new scientific interpretation of the definition of globalization is represented, primarily, by the valuable bibliographic used resources and the original approach on the concept that refers to the links between globalization and security. This article may be, at any time, a starting point in an interesting research direction in the field of global security.

Keywords: integrator process; UN; connecting markets and world affairs; multinational.

1. Introduction

If we were to define the globalization process according to its extent or scope of deployment we could say that it resembles a transformation process (magnification). In this way, the local, national or regional processes (activities) increase, they become global. In this way we are witnessing a large scale phenomenon due to which the human society is united and works as a whole community. Above all benefits or drawbacks of globalization, reference to that concept must be correlated with the notion of interdependence. Globalization is a subcategory of interdependence, as a means of manifestation for her. Metaphorically speaking, the globalization is defying the territories and borders.

Regarding the role and mechanisms of international organizations, it is useful a brief presentation of political globalization. In this area, globalization “is visible in the spread of constitutional arrangements, in increasing the number of countries which have become democratic also in developing international rules and institutions”.

The political ideas have the function to influence and, sometimes, to revolutionize systems. The facility with which they are conveyed on the global market opens the opportunity of common markets, values, ideas, development directions. From this level of social, political, ideological, economic contextualization of the states, the sedimentation of common goals becomes natural, and the concerted efforts in regulatory frameworks such as international organizations belong to the cycle of optimizing the approaches of achieving these goals.

The main effect of globalization is that of minimizing the role of borders to their legal status reduction of geographical boundary. Related to this process is the deterritorialization and dynamics – the isolationism is no longer a viable option, or even possible.

Globalization affects all spheres, so that states are obliged to operate in a global strategic environment: as capital, trade or any means of communication operates in a global world, also the security or insecurity is subject to globalization, in the sense that they cannot be defined by reference to clearly defined territories. (Naghi, 2010, p. 60)

2. Theoretical Approaches on the Globalization’s Occurrence and Types of its Manifestation

We will try without being excessive in the multitude of approaches to define globalization as contemporary global process, from several points of view. Thus, in a first sense “by this term we understand the development of global financial markets, the increase of transnational corporations and their growing dominance over the national economies”. (Frunzeti, 2009, p. 122) In his work Teodor Frunzeti (2009) shows that in the IMF acceptance, the globalization is “increasing international integration of markets for both goods and services and capital.”

Others think that globalization is “one of the major political achievements of the late XXth century, having as movement forces the steadily falling costs of communication and transport, transformation into producers and consumers of billions of people in the world, and the tendency of adopting the principles of market economy all over the world. But despite the low costs of communication and access to information, nothing would have happened without a globalization of economic liberalism that took place in the last 30 years.” (Bonciu & Baicu, 2010, p. 47)

Also globalization “can be defined as a set of structures and economic, social, technological, political and cultural processes arising from the changing nature of production, consumption and trade in goods. There have been many changes in the world economy, otherwise we can consider globalization as a result of the creation of the world market.” (Frunzeti, 2009, p. 122)

However “globalization is intensifying process of connecting markets and world affairs. This process has accelerated dramatically in the last two decades as technological progress facilitates the movement of people, communication and international affairs. Globalization reduces the relevance of borders between states, at least in terms of economic processes and, in particular, the trade”. (Geantă & Geantă, 2009, p. 13)

World trade continues to grow at a much faster rate than production: opening their economies and the mutual dependence are growing. The large scale imbalances may arise when it will be required an international cooperation and also the development and further strengthening of the international monetary system.

Most of the foreign direct investments continue to flow towards the developed world. The advantage that the United States of America have, compared to other countries and regions in terms of productivity and competitiveness, as well as research and technology, will remain and it may even increase. The world is in a demographic dynamics almost out of control. The World population can be fed? It has increased to seven and a half billion. At the same time food is already scarce in some regions, and they matter more and more as a strategic product. Uneven development, backwardness of certain regions, such as Africa, rising unemployment and increasing differences in income are sources of tension. The dissatisfaction of those who lose in the redistribution at the global level of the workforce could weaken the political base of democratic political systems.

Globalization, manifested by emphasizing multiple interdependencies between states, and the liberalization of global flows of goods, services, capital and information, internal and external risks could generate and enhance each other. Amid an increase in the complexity and unpredictability degree of international threats, improving international security environment requires for the internal crisis management measures to be better coordinated, and the strategic information exchange between the countries involved should take place in real-time. (Naghi, 2010, p. 57)

To be able to continue the process of European integration, the EU must meet the economic challenges of global security and environmental challenges. The EU should deal with threats stemming from regional conflicts, terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, organized crime and illegal migration. It must keep pace with the dynamism of the American economy and the Asian region. Today, the EU is one of the major trading powers, exporter and importer of capital, first aid provider and the main advocate of environmental protection, with a currency that is a serious competitor for the dollar. It is one of the main actors in shaping global trade rules. However, its economic strength, for the moment, is not accompanied by a corresponding political role. It can keep its global economic influence and strengthen its political global role, the implementation of employment and economic growth objectives, policy development and community institutions.

By globalization we understand that notion expressing the changes in the society and in the world economy, caused by intense commercial and cultural activities worldwide. Globalization highlights the increase of trade and investments due to the interdependence between the states of the world. Basically the globalization is an obvious highlight the conditionality on many levels globally, due to the free flow of information, goods, services and last but not least the capital. All these interdependencies between world states are implemented by a variety of transnational organizations in various fields. We see such organizations in the economic, financial, social, political, and military domains.

3. Risks and Threats to Security in the Context of Globalization

Security issues are as old as the history of human interaction in time and space, where the coercive force or threats occur. As politics, security is a phenomenon that continues to be created by the human intention or action. Its evolution as a problem may coincide with politics when it comes to a situation of “pure war.” Most conflict exchanges between humans and their agents who enter into politics sphere they do not directly involve violence or imminent use of it. Most political exchanges where the disputes arise are solved nonviolently, they are not security problems in the sense assumed in the current paper. These transactions much like the economic exchanges in world markets or interstate cooperation in order to tackle the global warming, fall under the broader sphere of international relations and world politics. They regain their security issues, in the absence of a voluntary agreement of the results, when one or all actors involved in the transaction resort to force or threats in order to obtain what they want.

Security involves the lack of threats. Some analysts see it as an absolute condition: either you are alone or you're not. Others, however, see it as a relative condition: there are different degrees of security. It is possible that this will be seen in a subjective and objective manner. The objective refers to the reality of the situation of a person, if he is really threatened and he is protected adequately; the subjective perception refers to a person's situation and his wish of not being partially but totally free from threats. Of course, some may say that those who feel threatened when there is really no such thing, but at least misinformed. However, misperceptions are common and they cause the transition of human behavior in the security sphere. The concept of security as lack of threats is clear, however, it raises a number of questions. Who and what is protected and by what threats? Mainly, the security can be applied to everyone and everything. Is there a global security, international security, national security, regional security and safety organizations, groups and individuals? Similarly, the concept can be applied to any kind of threats. “In the broadest terms, security means survival. States want to protect themselves against the overturning or foreign invasions; individuals want to protect themselves against those who might threaten their lives and the loved ones. They want not be threatened their property (in the case of territory or sovereignty), core values and welfare. Based on the last question listed, some commentators define security less negative – the absence of the threat - and more positively - to promote the well-being and quality of life.” (Robinson, 2010, p. 194)

Security is a particular type of problem. It includes all those changes between people and their agents - states, international organizations, corporations, associations, etc. - where players not only pursue some results, but they are even willing to use coercive violence and intimidation in order to obtain what they want. These exchanges operate according to a certain type of human logic, most clearly exposed by the founders of security theory. The same author considers that exchanges leading to a voluntary agreement between the players fail the security test; however, when a mutual cooperation agreement is not working - for instance, is rejected or violated an agreement in the commercial field or that of arms control - a relationship that was not part of security, is vested with the attributes of security issues, which must be solved simultaneously and synchronously with the substantive aspect of the debate.

At international level, the end of the Cold War has led to a fragmentation of efforts in the areas of security, with direct implications on the need for further coordination efforts of the international community. In this era of profound change and transformation it is no longer possible the isolationist policy of security type, but only in the broader context of interdependencies and relationships between the general trends and threats or challenges specific to a particular area or geographic areas. (Naghi, 2010, p. 54)

Global security challenges currently can be identifiable in the economic and social tensions, extremist ideologies, ethnic exclusion, international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, natural disasters caused by the man and public health risks and epidemics, illegal drug and arms trade. In the same context we can speak of international organized crime.² Their effects can be exacerbated by the risks arising from the failure of states. The traditional threats continue to be a significant risk in some regions, while they were reduced in other places. The risk of any traditional military threat in Europe - and North America is low on the medium term. It is necessary to react, but to threats from other parts of the world, traditional conflicts affecting residents of states in a given region, and indirectly the entire Euro-Atlantic area.

Currently, globalization is a beneficial by economic dynamics and flows, information, capital. But simultaneously it creates a network of links that predispose to the vulnerability of the international system. It is this flow, determining the interdependent nature of these networks, highlights the fact that these developments are capable and prone towards the globalization of insecurity. So globalization is more than dependence, it is even change at the level of internal structures. (Naghi, 2010, p. 61)

Optimizing security policies require a permanent updating of the strategic needs. Given the deterritorialization, the most viable option seems to be to adopt a strategy aimed at solving crises outside Europe “under the new conditions of globalization of insecurity, it is crucial solving possible internal crisis in the foreign state entities: failed states, a state involved in a civil war, even at the level of an ethnic tribe from which such danger may arise.” In these circumstances, it is not very clear the intent of the international assistance - it cannot be separated from selfish intentions of states to protect their own interests.

In economics, the economic globalization will continue and it will deepen, continuing to deepen the competition for resources. The economy of the Asian countries will increase significantly (China and India will continue their economic growth, the success in both countries will depend on the pace of reforms and securing energy resources). Although economic growth will be felt directly on GDP growth, its per capita distribution will create large inequities. (Naghi, 2010, p. 62)

4. Globalization - Implications in Defining a New International Order

The imperative of globalization is defined in terms of the designing the process of foreign policy and security strategy: in these processes, the democracies must “perceive, think and act in global terms.”

The new cold war between the US and the EU on the one hand and Russia on the other hand has forced Moscow to sell cheap the natural resources to China, thus fueling the rise of a regional superpower that has an interest for in Asia no to dominate neither the US or Russia.

For the US, the conflict between the West and Russia has crossed the borders of the territorial battle and it has turned into a struggle for maintaining the international order that the US is building since the end of the first Cold War, but Washington seems to have reflected very little on the consequences that the conflict will have on a long-term upon China, which, as the late 19^th century America, it wants to become a dominant regional power.³ From this new Cold War created by the economic and political sanctions imposed by the EU and the US Russia and the possible arming of Ukrainians by the Americans, the unwittingly winner could be China, writes The Washington Post.

China surpassed the United States and it is now the largest economy in the world by purchasing power parity criterion, according to the IMF. Also, China is in the process of developing the military capabilities and, like other large emerging powers throughout history, it seeks to become a dominant power in the Far East. (Tănase, 2015)

Russian economy is in turmoil following the collapse of oil prices and sanctions imposed by the West and the World Bank estimates that Russia's GDP will contract by 2.9% in 2015. EBRD forecasts that the Russian economy will shrink by about 5% this year. To protect themselves from a potential economic disaster, the government of the Kremlin turned its attention to the Asian market to obtain funds to sell their natural resources and to establish new military contracts. For example, in May 2014, Moscow and Beijing signed a contract for 400 billion dollars for the delivery of natural gas to China, and in November 2014, another agreement was signed for delivery of gas. In September 2014, the US Secretary of Defense of that time, Chuck Hagel said that Russia is working with China to develop new weapons systems. The trade relations between Russia and China could increase in 2015 to 100 billion dollars, with $ 0 billion in addition to amount of the last year. The logic of these bilateral relationships is elementary: China needs resources that Russia has, and Russia needs markets, foreign investment and capital that China has.

Also, the Chinese do not want the South China Sea to be dominated by the US, and Russia does not want for Europe and the United States to penetrate what Moscow considers to be “the sphere of influence”. In short, neither of the two countries wants to coexist in a world dominated by Americans, and this principle gets them closer.

However, China and Russia are geopolitical rivals, even if Russian ties with the Chinese are a Faustian pact. In the short term, Russia gains from the sale of oil, gas and other natural resources to China. On the other hand, on a long-term, this collaboration strengthens China's rise, which seems destined to be Russia’s competitor. In the long term, the United States must anticipate how to be a triangular superpower. Most American strategists agree that not Russia but China is the biggest geopolitical challenge for the 21st century for Washington, and the strategic thinking basis shows that Russia is a counterweight for China’s ascension. For now, however, the European and US policies are pushing Russia directly into the open arms of China, a geopolitical error, which if it is not going to be straighten, China will be involuntarily winner of this fight. (Tănase, 2015, p. 3)

The political challenge is to turn the potential benefits of globalization phenomenon into real gains, reducing at the same time, the social costs. The measures to improve the functioning of EU markets and to boost innovation performance will contribute to the reduction of the duration of the adjustment process, while some active measures, such as those funded by the European Globalization Adjustment Fund, will assist the affected workers.⁴

5. Final Considerations on the Topic

The answers that the international community can provide to security the need represent the collective defense. NATO represents such a global or regional mechanism, which over time has proven its viability. Gradually, the EU can develop a similar mechanism, for the effectiveness of which an essential element will be represented by the transparent cooperation, peer to peer, with the North-Atlantic Alliance. We can conclude that:

- in a time when states are no longer the only important actors in the international arena, the tendency for some to dominate others is kept and it increases, the war for resources is still available, and the competition for power and supremacy is increasingly fierce;

- There can be no national security without reference to regional or global security, and vice versa, it cannot ensure regional security and then global, without starting from the national security of each actor;

- under the conditions where the dynamics of international relations favor efforts to build a new international balance, it is imperative to have a system for managing issues of insecurity and timely warning about the materialization of indicators that predict the threats and risks, amplified by the existing vulnerabilities at national, regional and global levels;

- as the globalization phenomenon did not happen overnight, most certainly the solving of the current economic crisis and global security with all the consequences that generate vulnerabilities on the international security, it will not find resolution instantly;

- as the globalization is a surprisingly global process, which waits no longer, Romania will have to integrate as quickly as possible and affordably on the international markets for goods and services and capital, that can decisively influence Romania's security.

European leaders are rightly alarmed by the situation in Ukraine: the victims’ number increases daily and the Ukrainian economy is on the verge of collapse. A solution must be found as soon as possible. At the Washington there are debates about the “post-Soviet space” (former republics of the Soviet Union who have won their independence after the fall of the Iron Curtain). The American and European authorities must remember that post-Soviet space is the same as the pre-Soviet space, i.e. the Czarist Russian Empire. The Russians still consider themselves as the dominant power in an area where culture and traditions give rise to a particular interest on their part. Despite the reasonable charges against Russian actions, the negotiations with the Russian officials should continue.

Globalization is a very large phenomenon, with objective determination and a lot of nuances objective and subjective involvement. In our opinion, based on the study and documentation, we believe that by globalization it could be understood as the set of long-term, dynamic, continuous, variable and complex processes. Factors such as technological progress, lower transport costs and policy liberalization in the European Union and in other third countries have led to increasing trade exchanges and movement of funds between countries. It has important consequences for the functioning of the EU economy. The globalization phenomenon, although a source of great benefits and opportunities implies that Europe has to face fierce competition from low-cost economies like those of China and India, as well as the innovative economies, as the United States.

6. Bibliography

Bonciu, F., & Baicu, G. (2010). Economia mondială sub lupă – de la crize acute la crize cronice/The world economy under loopwhole - from acute crisis to chronic crisis. Bucharest: Pro Universitaria.

Frunzeti, T. (2009). Geostrategie/Geostrategy. Bucharest: Editura Centrului Tehnic-Editorial al Armatei.

Geantă, I., & Geantă, S. (2009). Globalizarea – implicaţii asupra securităţii statului/Globalization - implications on state security. Bucharest: Editura Universităţii Naţionale de Apărare "Carol I".

Naghi, G. (2010). Securitatea europeană: fundamentări normative şi instituţionale/European security: regulatory and institutional fundamentals. Bucharest: C.H. Beck.

Robinson, P. (2010). Dicționar de securitate internațională/Dictionary of International Security. Cluj – Napoca: CA Publishing.

Tănase, S. (2015, February 26). Din noul război rece dintre Vest şi Rusia, principalul câştigător va fi China?/From the new cold war between the West and Russia, the main winner will be China? Retrieved 02 2015, 2015, from Ziarul Financiar/Financial Newspaper: http://www.zf.ro/companii/energie/din-noul-razboi-rece-dintre-vest-si-rusia-principalul-castigator-va-fi-china-13893549

Online Sources

http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/international/globalisation/index_ro.htm.

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