Introduction
Globalization is the phenomenon of the rapid incorporation of world economies, especially through the exchange of goods and services across international borders. In other words, globalization is the transfer of labor and technology around the world. Through globalization, many countries in the world interact more in various aspects. For instance, countries share markets, exchange business ideas, as well as technological knowledge. In essence, most countries benefit from globalization in terms of economic gains and new ideas. However, globalization has its shortcomings and makes countries vulnerable to vices such as terrorism, narcotics trafficking, human trafficking among other criminal activities.
Globalization as a security issue
Although globalization has a lot to do with international trade, there are also political issues involved. Since globalization links countries to the international community, several factors such as security come into place. In fact, globalization can be seen as a security issue. Globalization increases security threats since the security o of a country becomes more vulnerable concerning external and internal security aspects, which require more alertness of the authorities involved.
The government of any country has to realize that globalization brings about the issue of the close relation of foreign and domestic issues hence the need to be alert in handling challenges that emerge. Consequently, the security traditional perception dwindles hence the tactics of tackling security take a new complex direction in the context of globalization. Globalization has also brought about contemplation on the new ways in which to fight crime hence rendering commonly accepted means of crime deterrence quite irrelevant in the global perspective.
The advent of globalization has brought a new definition of the term security since it covers a larger space in the context of international boundaries beyond the national identity. The concept of globalization has led to new forms of security threats such, as non-physical security threats hence diversification of security concerns. Consequently, security concerns have made most countries adopt particular behavioral tendencies in regards to a country’s foreign policy. Quintessentially, the incidences of drug trafficking in East Asia have been quite rampant over the years. In fact, the UN office charged with Drugs and Crime has reported an increasing trend of drug trafficking in East Asia, and Burma has been pointed out as the source of international narcotics trafficking. In this case, transnational crime has absolutely taken the region by storm.
The UN official report has presented facts linking drug trafficking to organized crime squads, especially from West Africa and Iran. In addition, it has been reported that the Burma military personnel are involved in cross-border drug trafficking. The reports also reveal that several Iranians have been arrested attempting to smuggle drugs into Indonesia Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The security threat posed by West African and Iranian drug trafficking cartels in East Asia calls for a security response with a capacity to tackle the issue at a global level hence globalized cooperation among these countries. In reality, the affected countries cannot respond effectively to this security issue if they happen to work as individual entities. It is best for them to combine efforts, and act on the issue to wipe out the loopholes hence curbing the crimes. The united nations office on drugs and crime member countries launched an initiative, the 2009-2014 program in the East Asia region to address the issue.
Under this alliance, the countries have built the capacity to respond effectively and bear significant results in the war against drug trafficking at the international level.
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