AbstractsBiology & Animal Science

Threats by non-state actors and risks posed by non-human sources represent non-traditional challenges to global and national security in the twenty-first century. The way these issues are framed influences security policy response processes and mechanisms, including those associated with enhancing the resilience of a nation-state and its civil-society. Non-traditional security approaches emphasise the individual or civil-society as the fundamental referent of security. Recognition that the nation-state is no longer the sole referent or actor to address novel risks and threats has enabled a greater role for civil-society actors. This also means development of ways to implement response measures beyond conventional parameters to include the resilience concept as part of response strategies. This thesis examines a current gap in academic research and security policy discourse about the nexus between transnational non-traditional security issues and national resilience in security policy. Critical analysis in this thesis draws a distinction between risk, threat and hazard which assists in understanding the way non-traditional security issues are framed. The framing process is a critical, if invisible, element of the policy process influenced by a number of different actors and changing variables. The thesis demonstrates that the broadened security agenda and the way issues are framed and reframed, reflect cultural contexts and the socio-political construction of security issues. This thesis also examines whether issues placed on the security agenda can be addressed adequately by adopting resilience as an organising principle. To address this issue, this thesis examines who or what needs to be made resilient to whom or what. It also explores the way the concept of resilience has been applied through different policies in response to the notions of risk, threat and hazard. This thesis examines the concept of resilience and the way it has been framed in relation to non-traditional challenges to security and a number of associated policy dilemmas. Two specific policy challenges relating to energy security and biological security are examined. Arising from these case studies a number of policy gaps are identified and areas for future research are put forward for consideration.