Security

The security challenges the world faces in the 21st Century are markedly different from those traditionally faced by nation states. The UK itself faces no direct threats that are not shared to a greater or lesser extent by its neighbours and allies in the EU and NATO. Nor do contemporary threats emanate solely from other states. After more than half a century of European integration, Europe is essentially a peaceful region; the military threats to Western Europe of the Cold War era have retreated, although the challenges posed by nuclear proliferation remain serious. By contrast, non-state actors and failed states pose a significant threat, while globalisation and, especially, climate change are set to have profound ramifications across the world that are likely to impact on the security of the UK and its allies, either directly or indirectly as resource shortages and mass migration place additional burdens on third countries, typically in the developing world.

This changing international situation will impact on world security and the UK’s security, internal and external. Indeed, the realities of globalisation mean that domestic and international aspects of security have become increasingly interwoven, with significant implications for policy-makers. Likewise, the UK’s involvement in the so-called ‘war against terror’ has led to attacks in this country. The implementation of international policy now has clear implications for domestic security. There is a particular need for countries such as the UK that have been involved with the US in the war in Iraq and have been targeted in subsequent terrorist acts, whether perpetrated by foreign or British nationals, to consider ways of averting such activities. These challenges raise profound questions for the UK. The Government’s response has been to introduce increasingly illiberal legislation at home and has had serious consequences abroad for our troops and civilians alike. The questions for Liberal Democrats are how our liberal values inform an effective security policy and what contribution Britain should make to ensuring international security as a whole.

What then are the key security challenges of the twenty-first century? How far will climate change and associated mass migration and resource shortages impact on security? What challenges are raised by cross-border crime, especially people and drugs-trafficking? The aim of this paper is to outline the security challenges that the UK is likely to face in the twenty-first century and raise the questions that Liberal Democrats must answer in order to create a coherent, effective and liberal security policy. The responses to these questions will help set the framework for a new Liberal Democrat policy to be agreed at Federal Conference in Autumn 2008.