Security Arrangements Research Articles

The Philippines and the liberal rules-based international order

Abstract How do small powers choose the version of an international order to subscribe to? What factors are at play when a state subscribes to the rules-based order or decides to abandon those commitments and shift to an alternative version of order? The argument put forth in this article is that this choice is a function of domestic dynamics and the expected foreign policy gains of the sitting leader. In questioning the automaticity of a small power's choice, the article makes two important contributions. At the conceptual level, it supports the idea that orders persist because of the mutually constitutive actions of great and small powers. It lends credence to the claim of intersubjectivity in international relations and emphasizes that agency is anchored in relations between states. At the policy level, the article finds that while the Philippines seems to automatically subscribe to the United States-led order, pockets of resistance are a function of a colonial past that lingers to this day, which became fertile ground for the country's pivot to China during the Duterte administration. The article closes by highlighting that alliances risk their cohesion and effectiveness without coordinated maintenance, so policy lessons on alliance management are necessary to improve collective security arrangements.

From San Francisco to Seoul: Re-Examining the Conception of the Mutual Defense Treaty Between South Korea and the United States

ABSTRACT This paper revisits the formulation of the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) between South Korea (ROK) and the United States. It situates the treaty’s development in a more international and greater historical context by tracing how certain preceding developments, especially the existing security arrangements, could have impacted the shaping of the ROK-US MDT. The aim is to better understand the origins of this momentous agreement and what it stands for. A thorough examination of how the alliance was first forged suggests that the “bilateral” ROK-US alliance is more international in character than hitherto thought in a sense that developments in the Americas, Europe and the wider Pacific impacted the shaping of the ROK-US MDT. It seems fair to say this was an early indication that the ROK-US alliance could not be isolated from major unfolding of events elsewhere around the world. This has important implications for Seoul, as the future of ROK-US alliance recently came to the fore as the US continues to wrestle with the developments in the Indo-Pacific. In addition to this contemporary significance, this study also has academic significance as it seeks to fill certain gaps in the existing historiography, such as Washington’s experience negotiating the North Atlantic alliance and its bearing on the ROK-US MDT, and thereby offer a more balanced understanding of the ROK-US alliance. This article represents the author’s own opinion and in no way reflects the views of the Institute for Military History.

The New (Dis)Order: The Evolving UAE-Israel Security Alliance

The normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Israel under the Abraham Accords is part of a long-standing security cooperation between the two regimes to monopolize regional power. Indeed, with the rapidly changing political and security landscape in the Arab world, the Abraham Accords have become central to understanding alliance formation in the region. The Accords have significantly enhanced the already existing security and military relations between Israel and the UAE, with heavy Emirati investment in advanced Israeli weapons systems and security technologies, military and intelligence sharing, as well as ­economic partnerships in strategic sectors. While the alliance is often portrayed as a defensive security arrangement aimed at countering the “Iranian threat,” a closer examination reveals that it is much more than that. Sponsored by the United States, the alliance entrenches Israeli settler colonialism and Arab authoritarianism as mutually inclusive pillars for the region, with the ultimate objective of reproducing US hegemony in the face of changing global dynamics.

Regionalization of Peacekeeping in Africa: The Case of the African Union

This study examines the peacekeeping experience of the African Union (AU), which claims to be the main security provider on the African continent. Based on the case study method, the principle of historicism and a chronological approach, the author proposes a classification and a comprehensive analysis of the AU operations, from the first to the current missions. The aim of the research is to provide a balanced characterisation of the AU in conflict resolution by describing both the missions and the external environment in which they have been deployed, and by abstracting from the deliberately negative connotations associated with assessments of the potential of regional security forces. It analyses the dynamics, legal frameworks, characteristics and outcomes of deployed peacekeeping operations, both under the auspices of the AU alone (in Burundi, Comoros, Sudan/Darfur, Somalia) and in cooperation with the UN and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) (in Darfur, Mali, Central African Republic, CAR). As a result of the study, the author describes the key parameters of established models of African conflict resolution. The experience and practice of the AU - UN interaction show that the AU is ready to quickly respond to emerging crises and to contain bloodshed, often in the absence of peace processes and well before the UN intervention. The current format of interaction between the two organizations demonstrates the readiness of the UN to deploy its own contingents once the “hot” phase of the conflict is over and conditions for political dialogue are formed. However, with the launch of the first and so far only hybrid UN - AU mission (UNAMID) a new model of cooperation is gradually emerging that complements the existing simple “division of labor.” The purely regional format of peacekeeping stems from the potential of regional actors. The African Union, as a continental regional organization, plays a crucial role in maintaining the regional security regime, while sub-regional organizations carry out operational functions on the basis of regional security arrangements. The author assesses the peacekeeping missions carried out and highlights the challenges faced by African peacekeepers in their work.

Method and Subject

Research activities in the social sciences and humanities have traditionally conceived digital outputs in terms of databases and websites. Practically, most of these are still implemented using SQL, table-based, data structures and synchronic web technologies. However, the constant evolution of software means that browser functionality and security arrangements are constantly changing. As a result, few digital research outputs, except published literature, remain accessible for more than a few years. Recent progress with research data infrastructures is described, which has the potential to improve the sustainability of research investments. This article presents new standards-based annotation techniques, developed in the biodiversity community, which have been applied to global history research questions. Open repository software platforms supporting this ‘scientific treatment’ approach can now generate technology-independent data resources – supporting long-term reuse by the global community. Promoting institutional change to adopt these developments is discussed, so that costs of data stewardship can be made forecast-able.

How sharp are your health security arrangements against cross-border health threats? Attend the sharp joint action workshop to find out exactly that

How sharp are your health security arrangements against cross-border health threats? Attend the sharp joint action workshop to find out exactly that

Explaining Russia’s Inertia in the Azerbaijan–Armenia Dispute: Reward and Punishment in an Asymmetric Alliance

Russia has been conventionally portrayed in the area studies literature as a close ally of Armenia, although the latter is a subordinate rather than an equal partner. More recent scholarship has focused on Armenia’s dilemma as to whether to align itself with the liberal West or to enhance ties with its former patron. The Armenian foreign policy establishment has demonstrated in political action and discourse a marked preference for Europe’s institutions and political vision. Russia’s neutrality in the recent escalation of tension between Armenia and Azerbaijan, despite bilateral security arrangements with Armenia, showed the inherent fragilities of this asymmetric alliance. Drawing on asymmetric alliance literature, this article seeks to explain Russia’s reluctance to involve itself in the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute in favour of Armenia and identifies how Russia rewards or punishes its ally, based on its assessment of whether the ‘side payments’ attached to the alliance have been honoured.

THE NEO-REALISM IN AUKUS

Indo-Pacific is a very crucial region as many of defense activities from many countries are happening here. As the U.S., United Kingdom and Australia see the importance of the region they then created an alliance to create a free and open Indo-Pacific and make it as a region that is free from coercion and respects human rights. This security arrangement also will provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines for their defense capabilities. However, this raised concern among many parties that believed there are personal reasons behind the establishment of AUKUS. In short, AUKUS is a media to achieve and protect their national interest. This is in line with neo-realism theory that believed the main goal of every states is to survive and they will create alliances in crucial time. Hence, this paper will discuss the neo-realism in AUKUS. This paper is using a qualitative-descriptive method to better explain neo-realism in AUKUS.

Enhancing Cybersecurity in Fintech Applications Through Blockchain and Advanced Security Measures

Due to heightened levels of private and allegedly centrally stored data, fintech applications more frequently are targets of cyber-attacks that use technology to provide financial services. This paper investigates a few additional security protocols that help improve fintech applications' cyber security. Topics to be discussed include multi-factor authentication (MFA) and biometric verification, which are paired with blockchain to enable secure transactions. These strengthen the security arrangement of fintech applications and build trust among users by protecting their financial data. Using an in-depth analysis and real-life examples, this paper intends to fully explain how these technologies can be successfully deployed to counter cyber threats in fintech.

A Quality Improvement Technique in KERBEROS with Secure Authentication

Kerberos is an confirmation convention in which client and server can commonly verify to each other over an unreliable arrange association, to guarantee information judgment of the message and security of channel communications. In this paper, a modern novel is proposed to move forward Kerberos confirmation convention by utilizing Mystery Picture. This Kerberos will be altered to surrender way better security arrangements and to supply centralized get to control arrangement for each client with diverse parameters like confirmation, speed of encryption and decoding and productivity of transactions. This altered approach upgrades the secure confirmation of clients with non-reputation include by joining open key cryptography and covering up the message of differential get to control for each client by utilizing mystery picture. This differential get to control approach is being implemented straightforwardly to the clients whereas doing the verification of clients through Kerberos convention. The GnuPG has the capability to produce the key combine (ie, private key and open key) within the client itself. So this proposed framework utilized this key combine for encryption and decoding of messages and takes the advantage of non exchanging or non bringing in the private key from any gadgets or any nodes.

An act of agency: people with albinism in Tanzania creating change

The contact strategy has proven to be effective in reducing stigma in relation a variety of disabilities and health-related conditions. This strategy requires people to be willing to present on their condition. This study explored what the considerations are of ‘spokespersons’ to do so. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted. Informants (13) expressed how they felt about presenting, that it gave them the opportunity to develop themselves and to increase their status and confidence. Informants felt responsible for making a change in society and experienced their presentations as an effective strategy. The informants did not consider presenting themselves as a risk, as long as the necessary security arrangements are made, and proper training is provided. Recommendations are provided for the implementation and development of contact interventions in relation to health-related stigma.

Dark money, US security guarantees and the twisting of allied arms

How can powerful states best extract domestic concessions from their junior allies? What are the conditions under which the powerful state is more likely to succeed in inducing such domestic policy change? This article explores the link between US security commitments and Washington’s ability to attain favourable policy outcomes within the allied domestic arena. It provides an illustrative case of how the USA, using security guarantees as leverage, can enter allied domestic space and shape its decision-making process. After it was revealed that Latvia had served as a key node through which North Korea attempted to evade the sanctions regime, the USA, by playing its security guarantor card, pressured Riga to carry out substantial policy reforms in relation to its financial system. This approach yielded considerable results. In order to preserve the existing security arrangements with the dominant alliance member, Latvia offered significant policy concessions. This finding demonstrates that US security alliances come with side benefits that are often underrated or neglected in the scholarly literature.

Het transnationale begin van de Nederlandse mijnwerkersvakbonden. Een voorbeeld van de nationalisering van arbeidersbewegingen (1907-1926)

The Transnational Origins of Dutch Miners’ Unionism. A Case-Study in the Nationalization of Labour Movements. Several authors have argued that from the late nineteenth century onwards labour markets became increasingly organized and regulated nationally, by national social security arrangements, collective agreements, systems of labour exchange and migration control. As a consequence, members of the working classes began to consider themselves, and to be considered, as national citizens, and labour movements became nationalized. The First World War marked a watershed in this process. In this article, I want to explore to what extent this development influenced attitudes of the two Dutch miners’ unions, of which the originally inter-confessional one would become the most prominent. Until the First World War labour markets in the Limburg coalmining district and in the adjacent German Aachen district were fully integrated, and so were the nascent miners’ unions. On the eve of the First World War the Dutch inter-confessional union even became a branch of the German Christliche Gewerkverein. This all changed after the War, until in 1922 all ties with the Germans were severed, and the soon to become officially Catholic union reoriented on the Dutch state and the Limburg region. This article describes the transnational origins of the miners’ unions against the background of the cross-border labour market in the borderlands, and the effects of the territorialisation of labour markets on the originally transnational orientation of the unions after the First World War.

The Western European Union and the Early Days of the Yugoslav Crisis (1989-1991)

This article draws on the proceeding and the documents of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Western European Union (WEU) to account for how the unfolding crisis in Yugoslavia influenced debates on defence and security within the organization. While the literature has rightly pointed out that neither the WEU nor the European Community were successful in addressing the crisis and in preventing the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the following fighting, there is a gap regarding the analysis of the activities on which the Assembly embarked in the early days of the political crisis. This article attempts at filling the identified gap, and suggests that before 1992 the events in Yugoslavia did not influence to any relevant extent WEU Assembly debates, mainly due to other concomitant issues, diverse interests at stake and different positions between governments. This affected the WEU’s capacity to address the crisis and to play a more relevant role within European defence and security arrangements. The article resorts to the WEU’s archival material held at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU).

Proposed arrangements and cyber security challengesin nuclear domain: An explanatory study of India

The goal of cyber security is to protect the internet against online attacks. One of the most frequently use dterminologies in cybersecurity is “cyber-threats,” which refers to the use of information and communication technology (ICT) for hostile purposes by a range of criminals. The complexity of cyber security architecture make shigher safety measures necessary to guard against system flaws and potential global catastrophes. One of the most important security issues today is cyberattack. A cyber breach could make nuclear systems safety and security safeguards ineffective, which is especially important for nuclear systems. India, which has a sizable and developing nuclear programme, has a similar situation. Over the past few decades, governments, including India, have invested a significant amount of time and money in building effective physical safeguards for nuclear installations, which has raised the risk of a cyber or hybrid attack. The risk of hacking, disruption, or sabotage risesas nuclear infrastructure becomes more and more reliant on cyber technology. Any cyberattack’s antagonistic goalis to take advantage of a system’s weaknesses in order to take over, operate, and keep a presence on the target system. Designing standards that can accommodate both immediate and long-term needs is crucial due to the sensitivity of nuclear materials and infrastructure. The study’s objective is to discuss the proposed arrangement of cyber security in nuclear domain in India.

Fertility and ageing – actuarial perspectives

Abstract Fertility, particularly at its current low level in many developed countries and high level in some less developed countries, is a key factor driving demographic, economic, and societal changes at local, national, and global levels. Population ageing due to low fertility and increasing longevity represents one of the most significant global megatrends and risks. Many countries are already experiencing population decline and rapid growth of their elderly populations, with implications for workforce size, economic development, health and pension schemes, and social security arrangements. Actuaries are well known for their work on mortality and morbidity, but they have rarely considered fertility and its proximate determinants, despite their demographic and economic effects. This paper explores key explanations and outcomes of past and projected future fertility trends, and the implications for actuaries and for political and economic decision-makers.

Israel and the Emerging Strategic Architecture in the Middle East

The Middle East has undergone significant changes in the past two decades. Most significantly, the region has experienced the dissolution of the post-1991 America-centric regional security complex as the United States reduces its forces and retools its center of effort toward the Indo-Pacific, and the creation of a new gas-centered sub-regional security complex in the Eastern Mediterranean. These changes have impacted Israel’s stature in its region and have led to significant changes in Israel’s foreign and national security policy. While in the past, Israel viewed itself as a “villa in the jungle”—not as an integral part of the region—it now sees itself as part of its surroundings and is pursuing a much more regional-centric policy. This change is clear in issue-specific alliances and collective security arrangements, as well as in long-range economic relationships. This article analyzes the regional changes and their impact in Israeli strategic thinking and policy.

Optimization method in counter terrorism: min-max zero-sum differential game approach

<p style='text-indent:20px;'>One of the most critical problems facing governments at present is terrorism. Most recent studies are striving to find an optimal solution to this problem that threatens the security and stability of people. To combat terrorism, government uses various means, such as improving education quality, providing labor opportunities, seeking social justice, creating religious awareness, and building security arrangements. This study aims to evaluate the optimum strategy for both government and terrorist organization using a min-max zero-sum differential game approach. In addition, it analyses the dynamics of the government's activities separately and explain the impact of the government's counter-terror measures on the activity and strength of international terror organization.</p>

Police Use of Twitter During a Sporting Mega-Event

Abstract There exists a range of sporting mega-event security case studies from respective Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, International Association Football Federation (FIFA) World Cup, and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Championships. This literature tends to focus on outlining the policing and physical security arrangements at respective Games and the social consequences of these. However, no studies have examined police use of social media at a mega-event. This article addresses this gap by analysing the Twitter activities of social media accounts from police forces and units within Glasgow and London during the Euro 2020 Finals. The article makes an empirical contribution to the mega-events and policing literature by identifying that the police used Twitter in five strategic ways: security spectacle, demonstration of effective partnership working, responsibilization of citizens, public feedback and reporting, and real-time crowd management. Such findings have important implications for the use of social media by police practitioners at future mega-events and for football policing.

A kibertér jellemzőinek biztonság központú vizsgálata

An absolute concept and definition of cyberspace is an impossible undertaking due to its multidisciplinary nature. The information technology, social and natural science aspects of cyberspace would have to be included in such a concept. Consequently, the aim of this paper is not to create a generalised concept of cyberspace. Rather, it is to explore the fundamental characteristics of cyberspace in a multidisciplinary way. However, identifying these characteristics is not an end in itself, but aims at a better understanding of cyberspace from a national security perspective. Indeed, for the development of an effective national security framework, it is also necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the social reality of cyberspace, as both technology and society have an impact on each other and necessarily on security processes in traditional space. It is essential for the development of modern defence and security arrangements to understand and synthesise these.