Understanding Security & the Security Problematic in

Africa

Professor David J. FrancisHead

Department of Peace Studies & Director

John & Elnora Ferguson Centre for African Studies (JEFCAS)University of Bradford

Security matters because:

Important topic, if not, deadly concept in contemporary world politics today

Lens to make sense of world politics and national & Regional Politics & Development issues

Deadly concept because in the NAME of ‘security’, people are killed, raped, tortured, imprisoned, massacred, starved to death & denied access to basic necessities of life

Africa today, most of the violent and anti-democratic actions by Governments and States are JUSTIFIED in the name of Security

Why ‘Security’ matters in Africa?

Security: means different things to different people, agencies, institutions & at different times

Military, Security & Intelligence agencies have a particular understanding of ‘Security’

Politicians, Policy Analysts & Practitioners have different understanding of ‘Security’

Individuals & local communities, depending on their particular circumstances, have different understanding of ‘Security’

Academics have diverse interpretations of ‘Security’:o Barry Buzan, People, States & Fear (1991): 13

different definitionso Alan Collins, Contemporary Security Studies (2007):

9 different definitions

Security: a contested concept

1. Security: political connotation Plays important role in world politics Determines who Get What, When, Why & How Associated with High-Politics Become a powerful political tool used to set agenda: o President G. Bush’s ‘War on Terror’ after 9/11o Boko Haram Terrorist threats in Nigeria & West Africao Al Shabbab Terrorist threats & Piracy in Somalia, Horn of Africa & East Africa

2. Security: normative connotation Perceived as a good thing / a public good About protection, feeling safe, stability, order, peace & development Contradictions: attempt to protect some people, groups or states from fear may

produce insecurity & fear in others

3. Security: practical implications ‘Security’ not simply an academic & intellectual pursuit About practical & policy interventions Achieving security for ‘Real People in Real situations’ Changing lives: positive social & political change

Security Connotations

Security is about:1. ‘Condition of being or feeling safe from harm or

danger’ (Terriff et al, 1999)2. Protection, preservation & removal of threats to ‘core

values’ or ‘acquired values: Freedom, religious identity, identity as a nation & way

of life3. ‘Conditions of human existence’, i.e. security is

simply about Survival at state level, societal level, individual

4. More than ‘Survival’ because it is about emancipation (Ken Booth, ‘Security & Emancipation’ 1991)

Defining Security

1. Accumulation of Power: More power one has (i.e. military power)

the more secure Critique: asymmetrical wars, multiple

security threats, terrorism2. Emancipation: Freedom from life determining threats: e.g.

poverty Freedom from FEAR & WANT Preoccupied with Justice & Human Rights

Security: synonymous with 2 things:

Definition of Security What Does It Mean to be Secure?

Oxford University Press, 2007. All rights reserved. Oxford Higher Education

Security Studies is threats to survival but those threats are far reaching

What Threats?

Organised StateViolence

Beyond the State

Paradigm Shift in Defining Security:

From Traditional Military Concept of ‘Security’ to Soft-edged understanding of Security

From State-centric understanding of security to Human Security -Change in Referent Object of Security

‘Securitisation’ of Everything: What type of security are we talking about? Who decides what security means? Who determines the security agenda? ‘Security’ for WHOM, WHAT & for What Purpose? What is to be secured? How can security be achieved? Who pays for Security & at what cost?

Re-defining Security Today

11 Different Conceptions of Security

Traditional Security Non-military Security

1. National Security 2. Common Security /

Co-operative Security3. Security Dilemma4. Security Regime5. Security Community6. Collective Security7. Regional Security

Complex8. International

Security

1. Human Security2. Societal Security3. Global Security

Arguments:

1. Africa demonstrates the limits of traditional & dominant approaches to security:

Traditional approaches to security when applied to Africa fundamentally misrepresents & neglects the everyday realities of multiple Non-military sources of threat to security

2. The State in Africa has become a Source of insecurity & threat to peoples & societies:

Violent & illegal activities of State Military & Security Agencies as well as Corrupt Ruling & Governing Elites

Security in Context of Africa

Understanding the context & nature of security problematic in Africa:

1. Impact & legacies of: Slave trade economy Colonialism & Colonial Rule Cold War Politics Manner of incorporation of African into Global Economy (IDP & IDL) Have all Created fundamental Structural problems All still continue to impact & determine how security is interpreted

& responded to in Africa –E.g. French Colonial Pact in Africa

2. Security threat (s) in Africa not Homogenous or Uniform Different Regions faced with diverse Forms / Sources of threat to

security

3. In context of Africa: Link between Military & Non-military Sources of threat to Security

Non-military Sources of Threat to Security (e.g. Poverty) sometimes escalates into armed conflicts & wars

Non-military dimensions of security have & continue to threaten individual & Societal Security just as National & State Security

Nexus of Security & Development in context of Africa

Security Problematic in Africa: 3 considerations

Security Challenges in Africa TodayMilitary Security

Threats/Traditional Security

Non-Military Threats / Non-Traditional

Security

Wars and Armed Conflicts

Political Violence: e.g. post-election violence in Kenya 2007

Criminal Violence / Transboarder criminal violence

Terrorism / Militant & radical fundamentalism

Narco-violence (Narco-states): Guinea Bissau in West Africa

Natural Disasters: Floods, Famine & Drought

Health/Disease: HIV/AIDs pandemic

Resource scarcity : Water & Land

Environmental Degradation / Climate Change

Poverty & underdevelopment: income & human poverty

Internal Displacement, Forced Migration & Refugees

Poverty: as security threat‘Poverty Amidst Plenty’

Resource Abundance Depressing Social & Development Indicators

Political Economy Indicators –Africa’s abundant Strategic Mineral Resources: 21 plus

Africa’s Collective GDP in 2008 alone was US $1.6 Trillion (roughly equals Brazil or Russia)

Projection of Africa’s Collective GDP by 2012 is US $2.6 Trillion –

10 of the World’s Top 20 Fastest Growing Economies are in Africa: Emerging Lion Economies

Estimated 60% of Population in SSA live on less than US $2 a day

Increasing Youth Unemployment & Joblessness (49.6%) – 60% of Africa 1 Billion Population Comprise Youth

Face of ‘Security’ in Africa Today?

Link between:

Security in Africa: 2 basic freedoms

Freedom From WANT

Freedom From FEAR

Security Challenges in Africa

Military Security Threats

Non-military Security Threats

Oil

Support for Dictatorship

War on Terror

Israel’s National Security

Stability at All Cost

Policy Considerations: Recognition by Military & Security Agencies of

Inextricable LINK between Military Security Threats & Non-military Sources of Threat to Security

National / Regional Security Doctrine & Practice focus on LINK between Military Security Threats & Non-military Sources of Security

Requires Paradigm Shift in Training & Education of National & Regional Military & Security Agencies in Peacetime Democratic Africa

Recognition that long-term National & Regional Peace & Security cannot be achieved & maintained through the barrel of the gun

Responding to Security Challenges in Africa