Blueprint for Alternative Defence
Christer Nylander
On http://www.transnational.org from May 15, 2000
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T F F P r e s s I n f o # 9 3
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B L U E P R I N T F O R A L T E R N A T I V E D E F E N C E
Lund, Sweden - May 15, 2000
6 LONG-TERM GOALS
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- to abolish war as an accepted social institution, precisely as we
have done with slavery, cannibalism, child labour, rape, genocide,etc.;
- to provide survival, security and protection without causing an arms
race and threatening other societies;
- to deal with conflicts and create peace by peaceful means, in
accordance with the UN norm;
- to permanently secure the existence of the Earth and humankind, never
put it at risk;
- to enable present and future generations to live in a world where the
norms of the UN Charter are implemented;
- to preserve pluralism in all aspects of life, unity in diversity,
respect for life, and
- to live in partnership with Nature.
Lesson 1 to implement:
In the militarised world system and the nuclear age, we can not afford
to wait until war breaks out and then react with military force. We
need an active peace policy that seeks to avoid violence and resolve
conflicts long before they lead to war.
Lesson 2 to implement:
We can't disinvent nuclear and other technologies, but neither have we
disinvented cannibalism, we abhor it. It should be perfectly possible
to develop an equal, universal abhorrence against incinerating our
planet.
4 RELEVANT TYPES OF THREATS
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There are four types of threats against any society: internal and
external, direct and structural. Examples of Type 1, outside and
direct: invasion, occupation, extinction, sanctions, nuclear warfare.
Examples of Type 2, outside and structural: embargo, economic warfare,
ecological breakdown, global crisis, poverty, maldevelopment,
inequality. Examples of Type 3, inside and direct: state and private
terrorism, warlords, civil wars, minority repression. Examples of Type
4, inside and structural: alienation, social disintegration, Mafioso,
corruption, black markets, normlessness, drugs.
Lesson 3 to implement:
Only a fraction of these threats can be met with military means. Over a
certain point, military means will add to the threat-production in one
or more of the four categories. We must introduce limits to the role of
the military and to destructive potentials. It's like medicine: up to a
certain level it may be useful, beyond it has adverse effect.
Lesson 4 to implement:
In principle, there are no limits to what can be done for peace and
security. It is possible to develop a culture of peace and nonviolence
- but not if one element dominates over all the others, in this case
the military in world security affairs.
Lesson 5 to implement:
There is far too much talk about social security, human security and
environmental security that does not challenge the supremacy of the
violent sectors. As long as this is so, these types of security will
remain residual, complementary and war as an accepted institution will
pervade.
10 PRINCIPLES OF ALTERNATIVE DEFENCE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1. Good only for defending ourselves, not able to attack others.
2. Shorter range and less destructive power, but denser.
3. The defensive capacity is bigger than the offensive potentials of
others.
4. It is adapted to the needs and features of each unit, be it a
municipality, a country or a region.
5. Shaped to not create excessive dependence on foreign deliveries
(energy supplies, military components), i.e. reduce other-reliance.
6. Does not promote arms exports, has no economic profit motives
attached and can thus be dismantled - or expanded - depending on the
situation.
7. Has no connections with mass-destructive weapons or strategies.
8. Co-functions with a variety or other defence and security measures,
including preventive diplomacy, peace-keeping, peace-making and
peace-building.
9. Its leaders and staff (men and women) are trained in conflict
understanding and -resolution.
10. Its tasks, structure and statutes are in compliance with the
provisions and norms of the UN Charter, including UN peacekeeping
principles.
Lesson 6 to implement:
By threatening someone else, we increase the threat against ourselves.
It is wiser not to threaten anybody but be extremely difficult for
anyone to control or subdue, should they try.
Lesson 7 to implement:
If others do harmful things, we are not helped by paying back in kind.
If others cross red lights, we are not better off by imitating their
folly. Small countries will remain weaker if they choose to defend
themselves with the same weapons which bigger ones have plenty of, but
can become stronger, more resistant, if they choose alternative means.
That's why the U.S. lost in Vietnam and the Soviet Union in
Afghanistan.
Lesson 8 to implement:
There are two types of power: a) offensive power where we try to
control and bully anybody around, effects well-known when it hits
ourselves... and b) defensive power, power over ourselves and our own
destiny, self-determination and making it impossible for others to rule
over us.
3 BASIC COMPONENTS
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A. Armed forces
B. Civil defence and protection
C. Nonviolent resistance
(A) Defensive military and civilian components must be separated in
space. Military forces can not defend modern cities with dense
populations. For urbanised areas, there are only civilian means; any
use of destructive means will make a mockery of the word "defence". So,
the military is only for area defence, in the countryside. Cities and
town should be declared open according to international law, thus not
defended militarily and not being attacked with military means. Women
and men participate equally.
(B) Civil defence and protection is employed in urbanised areas which
is also where refugees and wounded people will seek protection. It is
about shelter, but much more. It is prepared in peace time and aims to
help the population under most difficult circumstances; it is reserve
stores of basic foodstuffs, the ability to switch to domestic energy
sources, keep hospitals functioning etc. It is to make sure that public
administration can survive computer sabotage etc.
(C) Nonviolent resistance is everything - some hundred methods, big and
small - that prevent an aggressor from gaining access to and utilising
the territory: go-slow, sabotage, deception, ridiculing, moral appeals,
demonstrations, refusing to co-operate, acting defiantly, using
culture, gaining moral support abroad - it's the utilisation of
Internet, videos etc.
B and C are particularly suitable for those who want to defend their
society but do not want to carry guns. Alternative defence offers a
role for all - it does not punish conscientious objectors nor those who
think military defence is best.
Lesson 9 to implement:
While a society may well need military defence, it can not survive in
the long run unless civilian
preparedness is much upgraded from what we have today - where little
investments have been made to secure the population's survival. So,
military and civilian components each have their role, can co-function
but must be separate in space.
Lesson 10 to implement:
This defensive defence mode is able to function as a deterrent. It
makes occupation and control, utilisation of resources virtually
impossible. It boosts social cohesiveness and any occupier will think
twice. In addition, all the world's sympathy will be on the side of the
strong and defensive, not on the (morally) weak, militarised aggressor.
Lesson 11 to implement:
Legitimate defence means to protect oneself and be strong and powerful
but NOT to threaten anybody else. With alternative defence there will
be no doubt who "began" it all or who violated international norms and
laws. The party with defensive defence simply can not commit
aggression.
8 SECURITY MEANS
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1. Military - conventional, paramilitary, guerrilla, home guard,
techno-commandos, module defence etc, small mobile units. That depends
on the society, and models are plenty.
2. Economic - the self/other-reliance problem should focus on what a
society should be able to do on its own if cut off in a crisis or war.
Equal interdependence, trade and openness is great,
dominance-dependence or asymmetric relations are not. To be strong in
the defensive mode, each society should be able to stand on its own
feet and satisfy its citizens' basic needs when the going gets rough.
3. Political - the relations between citizens and the state operating
security means, the problem of legitimacy, law and order, of democratic
decision-making about defence and security. The above mixed civil and
military model allows pacifists as well as those who want to carry arms
to serve their country.
4. Civil defence - shelters, evacuation plans, caring for victims and
refugees, etc.
5. Civil preparedness - making society operate under the crisis
conditions, energy storage, hospitals, mass communication, schooling,
production and distribution.
6. Nonviolent defence - non-cooperation with enemy, persuasion,
strikes, moral pressure, political "jiu-jitsu," social boycott,
teach-ins, refusal to pay tax and fees, parallel society, civil
disobedience, alternative economics, dual sovereignty, symbolic
actions, etc.
7. Society's invulnerability level - decentralisation, robust
technology, infrastructure, self-reliance in basic needs categories
such as food, water, shelter, and basic health.
8. Community, human beings - cultural identity, morale, belief in the
future, crisis and problem-solving orientation, solidarity, civil
society, participation, freedom and reliable media.
Lessons 12 to implement:
There are many means, one military and 7 civilian. Traditionally, only
1 and 3 are used; we need to re-conceptualise defence and security to
integrate the rest. The more means we have developed, the safer we are.
While arms cannot be exported to crisis areas, many of these other
means will also be qualified to serve in UN and OSCE missions - civil
affairs, police, monitors, reconciliation workers etc.
Lesson 13 to implement:
Defence is an all-society matter, not the monopoly of elites. Being
protected by elites is potentially dangerous and undemocratic. The
comprehensive, democratic 'mixed defence' outlined here opens up for
public participation and the creation of strong, resistant - but
non-threatening - societies.
7 LEVELS OF SECURITY
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1. Inner human being (psychological security)
2. Individual citizens (human security)
3. Municipality/local society (local)
4. Nation-state or state-nation (national)
5. Region (regional)
6. Inter-national (international)
7. Global - or world order - level (world order, transnational)
Lesson 14 to implement:
The dominance of national security is outdated. States are too small to
handle the big conflicts and problems and too big to handle the small
ones. From contemporary history we know now that the all-pervasive
national security paradigm can co-exist with insecurity at virtually
all other levels. We need a security thinking across these levels. The
world cannot be sure if individuals feel insecure somewhere - and
individuals can't be secure when regional or global security needs are
neglected.
Lesson 15 to implement:
Security is multi-dimensional, multi-level, multi-cultural and
multi-intellectual. Neither pacifists nor military should be allowed to
monopolise it. This model offers them co-operation and thus legitimacy
throughout society.
5 STAGES
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It's not enough to have a system aimed at deterrence or military
balance. What if deterrence fails - which it is likely to in a system
where there are no rules agreed upon by all actors? Contemporary
military defence may deter many from war, that is true. On the other
hand, if it fails and war breaks out - thousands or millions may
perish. This must never happen. A genuine security system must function
well through the following five phases:
1. Prevention of violence and dissuasion from attack
2. Crisis, tension, threats
3. Defence, struggle, if need be
4. Conflict-resolution, regulation - towards:
5. Normalisation, prevention, dissuasion (full circle).
Lesson 16 to implement:
The way we are 'protected' today means that if deterrence fails and
some fool starts a larger war, it could be the end. No state has
invested enough in surviving a period of fighting or reducing the harm
an opponent can inflict.
Lesson 17 to implement:
Security is not a linear function, but one of cycles. It is not about
extinction if...but about survival and permanence. A strong, defendable
society has various means to use through the entire conflict cycle. And
it cares about protecting people - both in the countryside and in urban
areas.
Lesson 18 to implement:
Alternative defence and security are means to surviving crises without
being killed having your society totally destroyed. Thus, alternative
defence embodies the HUMAN RIGHT to live without the fear of
annihilation, a right to peace. A right for future generations,
although they cannot voice that right here and now. Alternative defence
is fundamentally responsible vis-a-vis a sacred value: that there shall
be something rather than nothing, that the world shall exist
indefinitely.
Lesson 19 to implement:
There is a fundamental contradiction between the modern industrial
society and modern military technology: if used, it will destroy that
society because its destructive power is out of proportion with defence
and because modern society is extremely vulnerable. (Even a computer
love message can paralyse it...)
Lesson 20 to implement:
Stop believing in all the 'threat' assessment, refuse to let somebody
play on your deep fear. Security and defence - and peace - is not about
death and destruction, it's about life and development. Of course there
are threats, challenges and worries. We are not taking the easy line
and saying that everything is fine and we should just love one another.
In fact, there are so many serious challenges to our survival and
well-being that it is absurd to let military-industrial-bureaucratic
complexes create even more for the sake of their own elitist benefits.
Civilian and military leaders of virtually every state have built
shelters for themselves and their families , but not for their
citizens.
WHAT IS SECURITY?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Says Jan Oberg, "So,it looks like alternative defence is more or less
the opposite of what is preached today! Here is a definition by TFF
associate Johan Galtung from 1984:
'Security is simply here defined as one's own invulnerability minus the
capacity of the other Party to destroy. I think it is a fairly
reasonable definition of security: it means the capacity to come out of
a conflict unscathed, in other words the probability that human beings,
society, nature and also one's own defence system will survive. One may
later on decide to change them, but then out of one's own will. If the
invulnerability level is insufficient, then one is insecure."
In contrast, today's 'security' could be defined somewhat like:
'Security is one's own vulnerability plus our capacity to inflict
destruction on the Other. If actually used, it will destroy what should
be defended. Only when we have more destructive and offensive power
than the opponents or can intervene far away, can we be safe.'
Because the alternative defence model - and many other thinkable ones -
will reduce the threat and fear levels everywhere, resources can be
devoted to improve the living standards of those most in need. Thus, it
reduces both direct and structural violence to much lower levels.
You may see this and similar models as defence and security in
transition: after some time when the arms race and the
threat-psychology has declined, some countries may think it much safer
to go on and switch to purely non-military defence and security - we
thus get a kind of disarmament race leading in the longer run to a
nuclear-free and weapons-free world where the skills of
conflict-management and dialogue are as natural and highly developed as
are the skills today in computer management.
VIOLENCE AND NON-VIOLENCE: WE NEED A CULTURE OF PEACE AND A NEW DEFENCE
WITH IT
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
There is a violence of the underdog - of the disadvantaged, humiliated,
victimised, hopeless. And there is a violence of the topdog - of the
arrogantly powerful, the privileged who want more, the empire-builders,
those who need to be the judges of everybody else, those who see
themselves as God-chosen to fulfil a mission. There is a violence with
those who obsessively have to mould, force, engineer and control their
surroundings and fellow human beings.
Violence CAN be justified when used as the last resort by those who
have tried everything else - or by the dispossessed who have no other
way to be heard. But in nine of ten cases violence is an indicator of
disorder, it's a disease. It is anything but mastery of the situation,
it's the negation of leadership and statesmanship.
In contrast, there is no violence of the happy, the balanced, those who
feel they live a rich, meaningful life, those who have seen through
propaganda, who let go of fear. There are few violent impulses with
those who have some kind of inner harmony and can enjoy the here and
now.
Violence is the life not lived. The world military system is the future
not perceived. Non-violence opens opportunities in individual and
social life. It's the only means to protect pluralism.
Isn't it time we create a global dialogue - over Internet, for instance
- about what makes a healthy defence and security for the whole human
being and all human beings, sustainable over time and in tune with the
existential challenges facing us all in the 21st century? Isn't it time
to let citizens have a say in how we want to achieve security instead
of letting elites play on our fears to accept militarist 'protection'
offers-you-can't-refuse?
There are many alternatives, not only the one presented above. In fact,
given the wish for us and future generations to live in peace, I
believe there are only alternatives to the present militarist,
nuclearist system. And those alternatives are compatible with the
global campaign for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence. We shall only
achieve such a culture of peace if we kill two things: the ability to
harm and kill and the perverted belief that our security lies in that
ability.
You are hereby invited to brainstorm, explore and discuss democratic,
alternative defence. Sooner than you think, alternative security even
for big powers may be the theme of a CNN Q&A..," ends Jan Oberg.
Please also read the articles on TFF's site by our associate Dietrich
Fischer, one of the world's leading thinkers on alternative defence and
peace.
© TFF 2000
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Dr. Jan Oberg
Director, head of the TFF Conflict-Mitigation team
to the Balkans and Georgia
T F F
Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research
Vegagatan 25, S - 224 57 Lund, Sweden
Phone +46-46-145909 (0900-1100)
Fax +46-46-144512
Email
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Independent peace researcher give more important information about conflicts
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Christer