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Security Of The State The Choice Of Forms Of International Cooperation

Posted on:2010-10-06Degree:DoctorType:Dissertation
Country:ChinaCandidate:B TangFull Text:PDF
GTID:1116360302479042Subject:International relations
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Securitization is a constructive approach to security studies. It points out that the concept of security is a result of social construction and securitization is a process of identifying threats and persuading audience to accept it. This dissertation argues that the different types of securitization determine how state chooses between multilateral and bilateral cooperation. According to different reference objectives, the author distinguishes two types of secu(?)tization, framing national security agenda and framing international security agenda. Using this simple analytical framework, the dissertation studies U.S. international cooperative policy on the issue of global HIV/AIDS epidemic from 1999 to 2008.Since 1999, U.S. has been viewed HIV/AIDS epidemic as a security issue other than a normal public health issue. Till 2001, the spread of HIV/AIDS in developing countries had been viewed by U.S. as an international security threat, jeopardizing sovereign states' capacities and stability, causing regional and global systematic turbulence. According to this perception, U.S. chose multilateralism as guidance to international cooperation, aiming at arising awareness of collective destiny from other countries and acting together to be free from threats. Generally speaking, its policies were welcomed and accepted by international community. Due to U.S.'s efforts, HIV/AIDS gained political priority on international agenda and its connection with UN peacekeeping forces had been emphasized. Besides, many countries had supported the newly found Global Fund and welcomed U.S.'s change of trade policy on AIDS drugs.However, the attack of 9/11 makes anti-terrorism top security priority for U.S. and the issue of global HIV/AIDS has been refrained. Under the background, dealing with HIV/AIDS would be not only helpful to destroy the breezing field for terrorism, but also give U.S. a favorable national image worldwide. Thus, the issue was refrained as a national security issue. Because the logic of securitization has changed, U.S. justified international cooperation policy accordingly. It started to fight HIV/AIDS in places U.S. chose and by ways U.S. preferred, in other words, in a bilateral manner. Meanwhile, U.S. also faded it commitments to multilateral cooperation.Under the framework of bilateral cooperation, the U.S. government invested a lot in fighting the epidemic, gaining praise from many countries as well as their people. However, its policies have been inevitably influenced by some interest groups and become less effective in fighting the epidemic. Under pressure from both outside and inside, the U.S. government has made some adjustments. But because the logic of securitization and the choice of bilateralism had not been changed, the government could not avoid the influence from interest groups, leading only minor changes of policies. Under the framework of bilateral cooperation, the Bush government just fulfilled its national security aims partly. In the long run, its policies have to be adjusted to solve the global spread of HIV/AIDS.
Keywords/Search Tags:Securitization, National Security, International Security, HIV/AIDS, U.S. foreign policy
PDF Full Text Request
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