Security institutions and architectures To a large extent the Liberal Order is an institutional order, where an institutional network is seen as an important part of global governance and socialization processes. However, the security institutions that were established after the Second World War may no longer be adequate in the 21st century. We ask what challenges are faced in the 21st century by established security institutions and what new security architectures may be needed? The existing security institutions may be challenged due to changing power configurations and the changing nature of threats, alongside the number and kind of conflicts. As a result, established security institutions are challenged and new ones are appearing – all in a system that has no common and legitimate rule-making body. From reform of the UN to changes in NATO and the EU, to the beginnings of an active security role by ASEAN, the AU, the SCO, and the G8, the institutional system appears to be in flux with no overall agreement on its design. Simplified, it is possible to distinguish between two opposite types of visions for security architectures and for new or reformed security institutions; a balance-of-power system and a community-based system. A balance-of-power system is based on conceptions of power as brute force and is organized around shared interests and agreement on shared political aims. In a community-based system on the other hand, the conception of power is based on rule through consent and legitimacy and is organized around shared values and the shared aim of achieving a security community. Both forms of security institutions are in play within actual security architectures and the present security architecture may be said to be at a crossroads between the two. We investigate the changes and challenges facing the security institutions of the Liberal Order, as well as the competing and rising models for different security architectures. We also investigate how contemporary problems are attempted solved in a variety of security institutions. |
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