Correspondence.

• Author: Southon, Gray
• Position: Letter to the editor

Sir,

The series of articles in the January/February issue (vol 35, no 1) on the Defence Review highlights the shortcomings of the review in effectively addressing national security interests. The lack of a broad security framework means that it overlooks many critical non-military threats, and ignores the opportunity of ensuring that the spending of our security resources is appropriately allocated.

While a review of military capability and organisation is in order from time to time, a broad security framework is essential for its relevance. Peter Cozens states that 'we cannot look at defence in isolation--it has to fit into the whole trajectory of New Zealand's future', and Wayne Mapp refers to our 'principled commitment to multilateral organisations'. Yet Bethan Greener notes the lack of such a broader framework, and the substantive discussion by the first two authors is entirely in terms of military issues. There is the implicit assumption that military measures are the central means of maintaining security, and that military posture is fundamental to international relations.

While it may be traditional to view national security largely in terms of military defence, such an approach is becoming increasingly irresponsible in times of rapidly changing circumstances. In particular, non-military security threats such as biological hazards, environmental degradation, organised crime and terrorism, as well as trade and financial insecurity, are becoming increasingly critical. Further, emphasis on military solutions can be counter-productive--effectively reducing our security rather than enhancing it. Military postures are often destabilising, and military expenditures detract from economic development in many countries. The annual global military expenditure of US$1.4 trillion diverts vitally needed resources away from many crucial environmental, social and economic challenges. Such issues have a serious impact on the relationship between India and Pakistan, as well as surrounding countries, and they also appear to be arising between...