Building Multi-Dimensional Security in the Islamic Countries

The concept of security is not static. It keeps but evolving to cater to the requirements of the ever changing international environment. The word “security” means the sense of being out of harm’s way. Security is also the state where the established current social and cultural values are not under threat. In today’s world, the widely recognized security paradigm which puts political and military issues at the center stage has begun to be questioned radically in comparison to social, cultural, economic, environmental and industrial threats which have gained currency in matters of research and policy formulation.

The post-Cold War and post- 9/11 period has seen the emergence of new patterns of security. Today, security is not a one-dimensional concept restricted solely to military security. It is a contested, multi-scalar and multi-dimensional concept that includes economic, social and environmental aspects as well. The concept of multi-dimensional security was recognized for the first time in the Helsinki Final Act of 1975. It states that threats to stability and security do not only originate from troops and weapons but also from economic crises, environmental degradation and human rights violations. The three dimensions of security include: 1) The politico-military issues, 2) non-traditional security challenges, and 3) human development. This model of comprehensive security which entails both traditional and non-traditional concepts of security is more relevant today than ever before.