Mely Caballero-Anthony and Alistair D. B. Cook, eds. Non-Traditional Security in Asia: Issues, Challenges and Framework for Action. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2013, xvi+349p.

Abstract

Non-Traditional Security in Asia: Issues, Challenges and Framework for Action Mely Caballero-Anthony and Alistair D. B. Cook, eds. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 2013, xvi+349p.Virtually anything that constitutes a threat to a person can be indexed as a human security issue. This makes it sometimes difficult to determine what should be included and what, if anything at all, should be excluded from definition. Within human security, however, we can easily distinguish two groups of threats: state-sponsored military and non-military. Anything that is technically is commonly regarded as a non-traditional security (NTS) issue, be it local or transnational in nature. Some examples are spread of infectious diseases, natural disasters, resource scarcity, transborder pollution and environmental degradation, irregular migration, transnational crime, but also threats such as state sponsored violence on domestic populations and emergence of non-state armed actors.The worldwide discourse on non-traditional security gravitates around three major schools, as editors point out in introductory chapter (Chapter 1) of this book: 1994 UNDP Report school; Japanese school; and Canadian-Norwegian school. As scope of book is not analysis of such schools but description of some case-studies, general approach of all three is simplified as being management of non-military threats to safety of societies, groups and individuals (p. 5). One thing is, however, made very clear: since many of such security challenges are transnational, securitizing actors tend to draw closer, turning to regional and multi-level frameworks that have profound implications for regional security cooperation among states, particularly in Asia.The editors then go on to introduce five pillars of securitization analysis, as defined by scholars at S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: issue area (the nature of threat); securitizing actors; security concept (the securitized target); process (the speech act); and intervening variables (interplay of different concepts, issue linkage, role of stakeholders, and domestic political systems). Once these questions are addressed, ultimate goal is evaluation and analysis of policies and governance, or the process of decision-making and process through which decisions are (or are not) implemented (p. 8). This inevitably results in an increased interaction between state and non-state securitizing actors, a process that gives rise to multifaceted governance structures with competing or joint mandates, such as Association of Southeast Asian Nations, United Nations bodies, Bali Democracy Forum, and so forth.Analyzing, evaluating, and eventually fine-tuning these governance structures are sine qua non of success. Eight indicators are identified to measure governance performance: participation; rule of law; transparency; responsiveness; consensus-oriented decisions; equity and inclusiveness; effectiveness and efficiency; and accountability. These are perspectives through which this book undertakes an investigation into nine key non-traditional security threats in Asia.Health is first NTS threat to be addressed (Chapter 2). Infectious and parasitic diseases linked to poor nutrition and an unsafe environment are major causes of death in developing countries, and Southeast Asia in particular has a wonyingly high incidence. The chapter not only provides a comprehensive overview of frameworks and characteristics of health systems in region; it also analyzes health discourse in Asia by delineating its transnational features ( epidemics often go beyond borders). Of particular relevance is explanation of pandemic preparedness and regional cooperative schemes developed after outbreak of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). …