Security Arrangements Research Articles

The Perils of Democratism

The article examines an aspect of the meta-theoretical context of the renewed confrontation between the political West and Russia. A distinction is drawn between democratism, the purposive instrumentalization of democracy agendas in great power conflict, and democracy as a responsive, reflexive and participatory mechanism of popular control over government. In the post-Cold War era this gave rise to inter-democracy, the combination of NATO and the European Union as the basis for the continued predominance of Atlanticism in the political West. This served to exclude alternative security arrangements in post-Cold War Europe, notably pan-continental variants. At the same time, the political West, a constellation of power that was created during and shaped by the Cold War, advanced transdemocracy, the view that democracy was the foundation for the creation of a genuine security community. Drawing on democratic peace theory, this approach substituted democratic internationalism for the sovereign internationalism at the heart of the UN-based Charter international system established in 1945. This gave rise to a distinctive style of international politics, described as democratism in this paper. Rather than overcoming conflict, democratism serves to sharpen antagonisms and thus helped to regenerate Cold War practices and undermined the credibility of liberal internationalism itself. The blowback effects, however, should be distinguished from the continuing struggle for democracy and a style of international politics that remains true to Charter principles.

A MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING ALGORITHM FOR PLANNING ACTIVITIES TO REDUCE THE PRODUCTION RISK LEVEL

It is important to minimize the negative consequences of exposure to hazardous and harmful production factors that constitute a danger to the health of workers, through the introduction of effective technical and organizational measures and personal protective equipment. The aim of the article is to develop a sequence of implementation of safety measures to reduce the risk of occupational diseases among employees of nuclear power plants in Ukraine. The research methodology is based on the analysis of the peculiarities of working conditions, the determination of dangerous and harmful production factors and the choice of an optimization model of support systems in decision making. Statistical data and research findings have confirmed that the poor health and safety of workers is due to inefficiency of available occupational safety management methods, limited implementation of the latest technical and economic arrangements, imperfect methods of limiting the impact of hazardous and harmful production factors, and insufficient funding for such activities. In the general case, the implementation of management methods that provide the safety of life and health of workers and ensure risks are kept at a reasonably low level is to choose the optimal set of technical and organizational arrangements, determine the sequence of their introduction, to control their implementation and evaluation of their results. The article proposes a method of discrete step-by-step optimization of the sequence of implementation of security arrangements. The method involves setting of the most important criterion and a number of limitations. The method modified to the requirements of the set tasks is aimed at choosing the optimal within the framework of the general annual financing of technical and organizational arrangements and means of individual protection of employees and reducing the levels of risk in individual workplaces.

One Cuba is Enough

Despite the contribution of new streams in international law scholarship, the decades of the Cold War remain underexplored in Latin American current historiography. Removing the geopolitical conflict from the centrality of historiographic analysis, the present article aims to understand the operation of international law in the Cold War through Latin American regional dynamics. Through the reading of the articles on “collective security” published in some international law journals during the period of the Cold War (American Journal of International Law and the Mexican Foro Internacional), this article recounts the history of the jurisdictional conflict between regional and universal organizations. It demonstrates that the history of collective security in the hemisphere begins as experiment in formalization of the long and distinct American tradition in international law. The defense of this tradition served as a basis to formalize or legalize the projection of US power in the Americas. Latin Americans responded to this push first by endorsing the creation of a regional organization and a collective security arrangement, later by using law as a strategy to advance their position. However, as collective security increasingly became a justification for violations of the UN Charter, solidarity among American republics faded and cooperation, despite a regional treaty, became virtually impossible. The regional agreement thus proved to be both an enabler and an obstacle for this strategy. Thus, we conclude that the history of the International Law in Latin American during the Cold War was also the history of the demise of American International Law.
 KEYWORDS: Cold War. Latin America; International Law; Collective Security.

The EU financial collateral directive: the distinguishing features of a security financial collateral arrangement?

Abstract The first part of this article considers whether a system-neutral meaning of a title transfer financial collateral arrangement (TTFSA) can be identified in the EU Collateral Directive. This part looks at a similar issue—it considers whether system-neutral meaning of a security financial collateral arrangement (SFCA) can be identified in the Financial Collateral Arrangement Directive. It is argued that the definition of a SFCA in the Directive is based on the assumption that there is a specific organizing principle or concept that makes it easy to clearly identify, and demarcate, SFCAs from other types of security arrangements (particularly TTFCAs). While this assumption fits well within the model of Civil law systems, which may have a clear concept of ‘security right’, it does not fit in well within the common law. The arguments in this article call for a careful approach in the system-neutral definition of a SFCA in the Directive.

Outlook of Power Re-alignment in Indian Ocean

Pakistan and China have uplifted decade’s old bondage to economic cooperation on a win-win basis through CPEC. In the Chinese equation this initiative is an economic integration of the 21st century; whereas, the US endeavors to ensure implementation of international order at sea. This paper, employing Mahan’s theory of sea power, explains the future maritime scenario in South Asia which will evolve with the US and China as leading players. This paper also answers the question of how IOR littorals will align themselves in the Indian Ocean. In-depth understanding of economic interests of IOR littorals through BRI and gaining of benefits through strategic partnership with the USA will provide the insight of future power re-alignment in South Asia. Paper concludes that in order to secure energy requirements China will make collaborative maritime security arrangements with BRI partners; whereas, India, Japan and South Korea along with USA under QUAD will endeavor to impede the economic progress of China hence, forming a second power block in the Indian Ocean.

The Institution of Security Agent: A Comparative Study of Polish and French Laws

In many continental legal systems it was often problematic to grant a security right to an entity separate from the holder(s) of the secured receivables. Such arrangement was especially desired by the parties in complex lending structures with many creditors. To solve this problem various legal solutions have been created in different countries. In Poland and in France the special institution of a security agent has been introduced. Aim of this article is to compare those two regulations. The conclusion is that the French provisions better deals with the challenges posed by the entity separation problem. Security agent, collective security arrangements, entity separation, unity principle, security rights, security interest, syndicated loan, bond issue, accessoriness of security rights.

ASEAN’s responses to AUKUS: implications for strategic realignments in the Indo-Pacific

Despite the divergence in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries’ initial responses to AUKUS, 1 year after the pronouncement of the tripartite security pact, ASEAN as a collective entity has already cautiously accepted AUKUS as a new reality. Regional states’ responses to AUKUS have been shaped by their concerns about the challenges to ASEAN centrality, possible negative impacts on regional stability, and their strategic approaches to relations with both the United States and China. As many policymakers and analysts have feared, it is indeed likely that AUKUS may spark a regional arms race in certain areas and on a limited scale and bring more challenges for regional stability. At the same time, there are also uncertainties regarding the implementation of AUKUS, which raise doubts about the balance of power and deterrence effects that this new security arrangement may be able to achieve. In the long run, more regional powers, including middle powers and smaller states, may gradually gravitate toward AUKUS in the form of partnership or ad hoc issue-based cooperation. In this sense, it is quite possible that AUKUS may provide a new and perhaps flexible mode of strategic realignment in the Indo-Pacific region. Amid growing US–China strategic rivalry, the strategic landscape in Indo-Pacific may become even more divisive and competitive.

Urban community gardens in Cape Town, South Africa: navigating land access and land tenure security.

Land tenure security continues to pose a significant challenge to the sustainability of urban community gardens in global South cities. However, a few studies have explored the mechanisms thaturban gardeners employ to facilitate land access and variations in land tenure security arrangements made with land owners in South African cities. This paper employs a mixed-methods research approach involving quantitative and qualitative techniques to examine how urban community gardens access land and land tenure security arrangements thereof. The study is based on questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and observations from 34 urban community food gardensin Cape Town selected through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling methods across selected low-income urban neighbourhoods. The findings reveal that although formalised land tenure security poses a sustainability threat to community gardens, perceived and de facto tenure present equally crucial forms of tenure which could be supported by state actors to promote urban agriculture. Reflecting on past efforts to formalise land tenure security, the article concludes that these efforts have failed due to poor coordination among government departments, and the complex and unclear processes of acquiring land. The paper recommends that while formalising land tenure arrangements may prove to be an effective solution, supporting institutions need to adopt a bottom-up approach to understand the gardener's needs and build on perceived and de facto land tenure security options to promote the sustainability of community gardening projects.

User Perceptions of Information Security: Evidence from Takoradi Technical University

This study related to the importance of information and information technology in today's global business. The global nature of information systems also exposes them to threats which make them prone to security breaches. Information risks are several internal and external, making it almost impossible for only information security professionals to handle. This therefore reinforces the need to involve end-users in by educating them to be aware of threats, and their role in curbing those threats. Related information security literature was reviewed to establish the business problem theoretically. Using focus group discussions and open-ended interview guide, data was collected from non-security employees from Takoradi Polytechnic. The data provided understanding of the employees' present security needs, employees perception of information security, employees' personal security initiative, and level of information security awareness. The key findings in the study suggested that, currently some arrangements have been made to ensure information security; however, there is the need for more non-computer-based arrangements such as physical security, training and data backup systems. Further, because some respondents did not perceive the current security arrangement to be adequate, they took personal initiatives like using passwords, using formal communication channels for obtaining information which falls outside their domain or function, and seldom reporting any perceived security threats. These personal initiatives seemed to be the basis for the employees' self-rating of their level of information security awareness, not some training they had acquired.
 
 Received: 8 September 2022 / Accepted: 29 October 2022 / Published: 5 November 2022

America’s Defence of Its Partners in the Middle East

The main factors American presidents typically consider before committing military resources to protect a partner include perceived US national interests, US domestic politics, the nature of the attack itself, the aggressor’s military capabilities and the possibility of escalation. An additional factor is the ability and willingness of the partner to conduct joint and combined operations with the United States and possibly others. This is critically important in the Middle East. As Washington prioritises the Indo-Pacific and Europe, US military forces will draw down in the Middle East and be less able to intervene promptly. To maintain strong regional deterrence, security arrangements between the United States and its Arab partners should be reconfigured to ensure that they can confront regional threats, Iran’s in particular, without immediate American assistance. The will require American advice and assistance in creating sustainable and effective joint forces.

An improved binary manta ray foraging optimization algorithm based feature selection and random forest classifier for network intrusion detection

• Proposed a binary version of manta ray foraging optimization algorithm for binary optimization problems. • Applied the proposed binary manta ray foraging optimization algorithm for feature selection using NSL-KDD and CICIDS2017 network traffic datasets. • Developed network intrusion detection model with the selected features based on random forest classifier. • Examine performance analysis and comparison of the presented model with GA, PSO, GWO, and GOA using Accuracy, Recall, Precision, F-measure, and execution time. • Statistical justification of the results achieved compared to that of GA, PSO, GWO, and GOA using t -test. The growth within the Internet and communications areas have led to a massive surge in the dimension of network and data. Consequently, several new threats are being created and have posed difficulties for security networks to correctly discover intrusions. Intrusion Detection System (IDs) is one amongst the foremost essential events for security arrangements in network environments, and it is commonly applied to spot, track, and detect malevolent threats. Detecting intruders using metaheuristics and machine learning methodologies in recent trend offers improved discovery rate. Therefore, this paper presented an intrusion detection model using an improved Binary Manta Ray Foraging (BMRF) Optimization Algorithm based on adaptive S-shape function and Random Forest (RF) classifier. The BMFR is envisioned to identify the most relevant features and remove redundant and irrelevant ones from the intrusion detection datasets. Furthermore, the RF is used for feature evaluation and to build the intrusion detection model. The proposed method was validated and compared with other methods using two IDs benchmark datasets, which include NSL-KDD and CIC-IDS2017 datasets. The result indicates that the presented model selected 38 features with 99.6% precision, 94.3% recall, 96.9% f-measure, and 99.3% accuracy for the CIC-IDS2017 dataset. Moreover, for the NSL-KDD dataset, the presented model selected 22 features with 96.8%, 96.2%, 96.5%, and 98.8% for precision, recall, F-measure, and accuracy. In addition, a statistical significance test reveals a significance difference between the presented model and the compared methods in terms of F-measure.

Safety and Security in Remote, Rural, and Regional Policing

Policing outside of the metropole is unlike what we have come to know about policing. The rural, regional and remote (RRR) policing environment is shaped by environmental, organisational, community and criminality contexts that produce unique safety and security issues. This article examines these issues for RRR police and their families in Tasmania, Australia. Drawing on interviews with eight officers and observations of five officers in two districts, we find that both distance and isolation, and closeness (or propinquity), shapes the safety and security of RRR police. This article documents the individual strategies deployed by RRR officers to ensure their and their family’s safety, the gaps in policy and practice, and the necessary changes to the work conditions, station security, and housing arrangements of RRR officers. Addressing a gap at the juncture of RRR policing and police safety and security, this research considers what can be done to enhance the capacity of RRR officers to remain in RRR deployments.

Enemy within the gates: militarism, sabotage, subversion and counter-subversion in South Africa, 1939-1945

ABSTRACT In September 1939, when the Union of South Africa entered what became the Second World War, the country was confronted with wide-spread political dissent and anti-war resistance which threatened internal security and stability. Incidents of violence, sabotage, riots, bomb explosions, cutting of tele-communication lines and constant militarism designed to thwart the country’s war effort were reported. These incidents were perpetuated by the disaffected radical Afrikaner nationalists who opposed the Union’s war policy, particularly the militant Ossewabrandwag (OB) led by Dr Johannes Frederik Janse (Hans) van Rensburg, in collaboration with Nazi espionage agents. The government of General Jan Christiaan Smuts implemented multi-faceted security arrangements, which included passing the War Measures Act, unleashing the security services and adopting the internment policy to subdue the militants and preserve internal security. This article examines the development of anti-war resistance and militarism in the Union and reflects on the counter-subversive efforts by the Smuts government to preserve internal security during the Second World War. Ultimately, given the magnitude of the anti-war destabilisation campaign, this analysis illustrates how and why the Smuts government survived a two-front war and managed to sustain the war effort.

Maritime law enforcement: Indonesia's experience against illegal fishing

Maritime law enforcement is very important duty for a coastal state as failure to properly enforce maritime security law can result in undermining the sovereignty, security, and safety of a coastal state. The high number of maritime crimes occurring in Indonesian waters shows that this country is still faced with the enforcement of maritime security laws in dealing with illegal fishing. This paper examines the international and national laws relevant to maritime security and analyses the institutions arrangement of maritime security in Indonesia. To analyze the issues and countermeasures of illegal fishing, this research uses the case study method. This case study uses data on illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing that occurred in Indonesian waters in 2015–2020. Finally, the recommendations for creating an omnibus law and establishing a new maritime security agency to improve the performance of maritime security law enforcement in Indonesia are proposed.

A New Security Model for Darfur: Between DDR, Integration, and a Joint Security Keeping Force

The signing of the Juba Peace Agreement in 2020 presents a unique opportunity to address longstanding security challenges affecting the civilian population in Darfur. The provisions on permanent ceasefire and final security arrangements set ambitious goals of implementing a comprehensive disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program, facilitating security sector reform, and promoting peace and security in Darfur. However, although the complicated and protracted endeavor of signing the Juba Peace Agreement marked an important step toward peace and democratic transition in Sudan, its implementation may prove to be even more challenging if the key stakeholders fail to adhere to the agreement and continue to promote their, often conflicting, political agendas. This briefing paper examines the final security arrangements of the Juba Peace Agreement, analyzes challenges and opportunities, and offers options and recommendations for tangible and sustainable implementation of the JPA provisions on security in Darfur.

Russian Private Military and Ukraine: Hybrid Surrogate Warfare and Russian State Policy by Other Means

This article investigates the Russian government’s reliance on commercial soldiers in the hybrid war efforts against Ukraine until the invasion in February 2022. Russian private military companies (PMCs), such as RUSCORP and the Wagner group, have already been active in Syria and Africa over the last years, signalling the resurgence of Russian machinations on the world stage. They also played a key part in the annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as the struggles on Ukraine’s Eastern border areas around Luhansk and Donbas. The article shows that PMCs have become an integral part of the Kremlin’s approach to foreign policy. Unlike Western PMCs, which can arguably augment their ability to provide effective public security, Russian PMCs are used to construct insecurities to the point of fighting hybrid surrogate wars. While they fulfil the same outcome for the Russian state to be strengthened through the public-private security arrangements, their function is radically different: (1) providing deniability without the deployment of Russian troops, (2) providing military ambiguity and (3) thus, furthering the Kremlin’s foreign policy objectives. The significance of the deployment of these PMCs is that they are an extension of the Russian security apparatus, closely linked to the FSB, GRU and SVR, and with similar command and control structures, staffed by former members of the Russian security services.

Rome confidential: deception and espionage in the British Embassy

ABSTRACT From 1924 until 1940, two chancery servants at the British Embassy in Rome, passed confidential documents to Italian and Soviet intelligence, and gave Rome and Moscow the ability to read British coded material for a long time. Based on a critical analysis of unpublished archival sources, this article seeks to reconstruct their spying activities and understand their place in the history of intelligence, and to provide an assessment of the prevailing Foreign Office security arrangements. It concludes that poor employment practices and security arrangements at the British Embassy in Rome allowed them to pull off a major espionage coup.

Experimental Investigations of the Thermal Decomposition of Wood at the Time of the Fire in the Premises of Domestic Buildings

Consideration was given to the issues relating to safety conditions and security arrangements during the thermal decomposition of wood at the time of the fire in the premises of domestic buildings. The data of experimental investigations obtained for the thermal decomposition of wood were given with the measurement data of the concentration of toxic gases (СО, СО2), oxygen (О2), and temperature depending on time and fire spreading conditions in the premises. The studies were carried out by comparing the changes in the temperature of the solid flammable materials with time and the emission intensity of toxic gas (СО, СО2) under the limited oxygen access at the time of the fire. The research data confirm those obtained for the gaseous atmosphere composition in the premises during the thermal decomposition of the solid flammable materials.

Reflecting on America’s Withdrawal from Afghanistan: The View From Southeast Asia

This essay reflects on the broad contours of the war in Afghanistan from Southeast Asia’s perspective. While the United States’ withdrawal from Kabul was calamitous, the pessimism about America’s role in Southeast Asia has been overstated. The United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan was largely inconsequential for the region. Southeast Asian states deftly mixed their support for America’s campaign in Afghanistan and the broader war on terror without being seen as too sympathetic, including, in some instances, condemnation of America’s attacks on Islam. Regional governments balanced their domestic political interests with their foreign policy objectives. The abrupt Afghan withdrawal may instead have positive outcomes, as the United States boosted its courtship with countries of Southeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region through new security arrangements such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and the Australian, U.K., and U.S. trilateral pact (AUKUS).

POWER REALIGNMENT IN SOUTH ASIA – AN OUTCOME OF BRI (CPEC)

Pakistan and China, through CPEC, have uplifted decade’s old and time-tested bondage to the zenith of economic cooperation on a win-win basis. In the Chinese equation, BRI (CPEC – an integral part of BRI) is an initiative for the economic integration of the global community in the 21st century. In contrast, the US endeavours to ensure the implementation of international order at sea through its Indo-Pacific strategy. Considerable academic work has been undertaken distinctly on the US Indo-Pacific strategy and BRI (CPEC); however, scanty academic efforts have been made on future power realignment in South Asia. By employing Mahan’s theory of sea power, this paper explains the future maritime scenario in South Asia, which will evolve due to the power contestation of global players in the Indian Ocean and the formulation of two distinct power blocks with the US and China as leading players. It also answers how Indian Ocean littorals will align themselves in this great powers’ contestation. An in-depth understanding of the economic interests of Indian Ocean littorals through BRI and gaining benefits through a strategic partnership with the US will provide insight into future power realignment in South Asia. The paper concludes that China will likely formulate collaborative maritime security arrangements with BRI partners who will become Chinese allies to secure energy requirements. Likewise, India, Japan, South Korea and the US (under QUAD) will endeavour to impede China's economic progress, forming a power block in the Indian Ocean region. Bibliography Entry Khawaja, Asma Shakir, and Imran Raza. 2022. "Power Realignment in South Asia – An Outcome of BRI (CPEC)." Margalla Papers 26 (1): 85-97.