Session: Plenary Session III
Date/Time: April 27, 2016 / 09:00-10:30

Moderator:
Martin Fackler, Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation

Speakers:
Mely Caballero-Anthony, S. Rajaratnam School of Int’l Studies, Nanyang Technological Institute
Yves Doutriaux, Council of State, France
Robert Manning, Atlantic Council

Session Sketch:
Plenary Session 3, titled “Non-Traditional Insecurity,” explored the non-traditional threats and challenges facing the world in the era of “The New Normal.” Panelists discussed issues ranging from climate change to cyber security and from resource scarcity to nuclear proliferation. The moderator of the session, Martin Fackler, journalist-in-residence and research fellow at the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation, opened the session by emphasizing how nation states are struggling to keep up with changes in technology and cross border migration in an era of increasing uncertainty.

Mely Caballero-Anthony, associate professor and head of the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, began by illustrating the connection between climate change and resource insecurity. As global temperatures rise and populations continue to explode, more people will compete for an increasingly limited supply of food and water. In Asia, the environment plays a large role in policy making, as it is a region particularly prone to natural disasters. Dr. Caballero-Anthony went on to discuss the role of states in dealing with pandemics and claimed that, since the SARS outbreak, governments have been forced to create new a new framework of cooperation to prevent the spread of diseases.

Next, Yves Doutriaux, Counsellor of State in France, spoke about the myriad issues that now fall under the definition of non-traditional insecurity. He stressed that the biggest difference in security issues in the modern era is widespread internet access, which could be harnessed by international institutions to create a global network of early warning signals for both natural and manmade disasters. Amb. Doutriaux also stressed the importance of civil society in policy making and recommended a more efficient decision making process for global affairs, including expanding the UN Security Council’s permanent members.

Finally, Robert Manning, resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, spoke on the role of nonstate actors, including so-called “super-empowered individuals” to play a role in affecting non-traditional security issues, citing the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s work in eliminating malaria. Mr. Manning spoke at length about the security issues involved with North Korea’s nuclear program and the efforts of the Six Party Talks to integrate North Korea into the regional architecture. He also warned that, while non-traditional security threats are rising, traditional war between nation states is still a possibility.

During the question and answer session, Amb. Doutriaux commented on the situation in sub-Saharan Africa, where he believes the states are weak, but civil society groups are gaining momentum in certain countries. He recommended that regional institutions become stronger to help with development. Dr. Caballero-Anthony responded to a question on depletion of global fish stocks. She claimed that what began as a food security issue can quickly turn into a dispute over national boundaries, and to solve this, technology should be developed to increase fish farm productivity. Mr. Manning focused his remarks on how institutions need to evolve, claiming the G20 has the potential to tackle these issues of non-traditional insecurity.

* The views expressed herein are summaries and may not necessarily reflect the views of the speakers or their affiliated institutions.