Is cyber security a non-traditional security threat?

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CBSE Class 12 Political Science★ 3-5 marks · CBSE Class 12 Political Science (Contemporary World Politics) Chapter 5

Security in the Contemporary World

What does SECURITY mean in the 21st century? Beyond military threats — terrorism, climate change, pandemics, cyber attacks. Traditional vs. non-traditional security. Cooperative security and India's approach. CBSE Class 12 Political Science (Contemporary World Politics).

⏱ 16 min readEasy difficulty✓ Free · NCERT-aligned

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By the end of this chapter you'll be able to…

1Distinguish between traditional security (military threats from states) and non-traditional security (non-military threats including terrorism, climate, pandemics, energy, water, migration)
2Explain why non-traditional security threats require cooperative responses that no single nation can manage alone
3Describe India's multi-component security strategy — military modernisation, international cooperation, NTS responses, internal security, and development
4Give examples of each non-traditional security threat and explain why it is classified as a security issue
5Evaluate the concept of 'human security' as a further evolution beyond both traditional and non-traditional security concepts

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Why this chapter matters

This chapter introduces the expanded concept of security — from traditional (military/state threats) to non-traditional (terrorism, climate, pandemics, energy, water, migration). CBSE examiners test: distinguishing traditional from non-traditional security with examples, cooperative security as a concept, and India's five-component security strategy. The chapter's real-world relevance (COVID-19, climate change, 9/11) makes it a natural source of contemporary questions.

Security in the Contemporary World

Introduction

For most of history, 'security' meant ONE thing: protecting a country's borders from military attack. But the 21st century has EXPANDED the meaning dramatically. Today, security includes terrorism, climate change, pandemics, cyber attacks, and resource scarcity. A country can have the world's most powerful military — and still be DEEPLY INSECURE. This chapter explores traditional and non-traditional security concepts, cooperative security, and India's security strategy.

1. Traditional Security — The Military Conception

Traditional security focuses on threats to a state's SOVEREIGNTY and TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY from EXTERNAL military threats:

Component	What It Means
Deterrence	Preventing war by convincing a potential attacker that COSTS outweigh benefits. Nuclear deterrence: 'If you attack, we will destroy you.'
Defence	Capability to FIGHT and WIN if deterrence fails.
Balance of Power	No single state should become so powerful it can dominate all others.
Alliance Building	Formal promises of mutual defence. NATO — an attack on one member is an attack on all.

Limitations: Focuses only on military threats FROM other states. Ignores threats from within (civil war) and non-military threats (pandemics, climate change). Focuses on the STATE — not human security.

2. Non-Traditional Security — The Expanded Concept

Non-traditional security broadens in TWO dimensions: WHAT constitutes a threat, and WHOSE security matters.

Threat	Why It Matters	Key Characteristics
Terrorism	Targets civilians for political goals. 9/11, 26/11 Mumbai — transformed global security.	Cross-border. Non-state actors. Hard to deter (suicide attackers).
Climate Change	Rising sea levels threaten EXISTENCE of island states. Extreme weather displaces millions.	Global — emissions anywhere affect everyone. Requires collective action.
Pandemics	COVID-19 killed millions, crashed economies.	Respect no borders. Require global cooperation.
Cyber Security	Hacking, data theft, attacks on critical infrastructure. Attribution is DIFFICULT.	Low cost to attacker, high cost to victim.
Water and Food Security	Scarcity leads to conflict. India-Pakistan water tensions.	Linked to climate change. Affects the poorest most.

3. Cooperative Security

Non-traditional threats CANNOT be solved by any one country alone. They require COOPERATIVE SECURITY — countries working together through international agreements, confidence-building measures, and global institutions.

Approach	Example
International Cooperation	Paris Agreement (climate). WHO (pandemics). FATF (terror financing).
Arms Control	NPT, CTBT, Chemical Weapons Convention.
Confidence Building	India-Pakistan hotlines. Notification of military exercises.

4. India's Security Strategy

Component	What It Means
Strengthening Military	Modernising army, navy, air force. Nuclear deterrence (No First Use).
International Norms	Supporting UN peacekeeping. Advocating UNSC reform. Climate agreements.
Internal Security	Counter-insurgency. Counter-terrorism (NIA after 26/11).
Economic Development	'The most fundamental security challenge is LIFTING millions from poverty.'

5. Exam Focus

Question Type	Marks	Likely Topics
Short Answer	4	Distinguish traditional and non-traditional security
Short Answer	2	What are non-traditional threats? Give examples
Short Answer	4	Describe India's security strategy

Self-Test

Q1. Distinguish between TRADITIONAL and NON-TRADITIONAL security. A1. TRADITIONAL: Military threats to the STATE from external sources. Components: deterrence, defence, balance of power, alliances. Focus: 'Will our borders be invaded?' NON-TRADITIONAL: Broadens in TWO dimensions — what counts as a threat (terrorism, climate change, pandemics, cyber, water scarcity) and whose security matters (HUMAN security — individuals and communities, not just states). Non-traditional threats are cross-border and require COOPERATIVE solutions. 'A country can be safe from invasion — and devastated by a pandemic or climate disaster.'

Q2. What are NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY THREATS? Give four examples. A2. (1) TERRORISM — targets civilians, cross-border, non-state actors, hard to deter. (2) CLIMATE CHANGE — threatens island states' existence, displaces millions, requires global action. (3) PANDEMICS — COVID-19 showed how a virus can crash economies globally. (4) CYBER SECURITY — hacking of infrastructure, data theft. Low attacker cost, high victim cost. Attribution difficult. These threats cannot be solved unilaterally — they require COOPERATIVE SECURITY.

Key formulas & results

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Traditional vs Non-Traditional Security — Comparison

TRADITIONAL SECURITY (TS): THREAT = military attack from another state. REFERENT = the nation-state (what needs protecting is the state and its territory). MEANS = deterrence (making attack too costly), defence (armed forces), balance of power, alliances (NATO, SEATO). ASSUMPTION = the state is the primary threat and the primary protector. LIMITATION = misses threats that don't come from states (terrorism, pandemics, climate). NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY (NTS): THREAT = broader — non-military threats from both state and non-state sources. REFERENT = expanded beyond the state to individuals, communities, humanity. MEANS = international cooperation, multilateral institutions, shared protocols. KEY NTS THREATS: Terrorism, Climate Change, Pandemics, Energy Insecurity, Water Scarcity, Migration, Human Rights Violations. 'HUMAN SECURITY' (UN concept, 1994 UNDP): Security focused on the INDIVIDUAL, not just the state. Freedom from FEAR (violence, oppression) + Freedom from WANT (hunger, poverty). 'A hungry person is not secure even if no army is threatening them.'

CBSE tests the distinction with a COMPARE/CONTRAST table. Three differences are enough for a 3-mark question: threat source, referent, means of addressing.

Non-Traditional Security Threats — Examples and Significance

TERRORISM: Non-state actors. Global networks. 9/11 (2001, USA — 3,000 killed), 26/11 (Mumbai, 2008, 166 killed), ISIS. Cannot be deterred like a state — no territory to threaten, no rational state actor to negotiate with. Requires intelligence cooperation, financial monitoring, and military action. CLIMATE CHANGE: Rising sea levels threaten low-lying states (Maldives — may be entirely submerged by 2100). Extreme weather (floods, droughts) threatens food security. Creates 'climate refugees' — people displaced by floods/droughts (Bangladesh, coastal Africa). Climate conflict: resource scarcity → violence (Sahel droughts → conflict). PANDEMICS: COVID-19 (2020) — most visible recent example. Economic cost: $15 trillion+. 7 million+ deaths. No country could protect itself alone — vaccines required global supply chains. ENERGY INSECURITY: India imports ~85% of crude oil. Oil price shocks (1973, 1979, 2022 post-Ukraine) directly hit economies. Dependence on unstable regions (Middle East, Russia). WATER SCARCITY: ~2 billion people lack access to safe water. Nile conflict (Egypt vs Ethiopia: Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam). Indus Waters (India-Pakistan). Brahmaputra (India-China). MIGRATION: Refugees from Syria, Afghanistan (US withdrawal 2021), Ukraine (2022). Creates political tensions in host countries. Climate migration growing.

For any NTS threat, CBSE wants: (1) what it is, (2) why it is a 'security' issue (threatens people/states, can cause deaths or state collapse), (3) one example. Three-part answer for each threat.

Cooperative Security — Key Principle

COOPERATIVE SECURITY: The recognition that in an interdependent world, NO COUNTRY CAN BE SECURE ALONE. Security is INDIVISIBLE — 'My security depends on your security, and your security depends on mine.' WHY NECESSARY: Pandemics don't respect borders. Climate change is global. A terrorist trained in Afghanistan can attack in New York or Mumbai. Nuclear accidents (Chernobyl 1986) affect neighbouring countries. MECHANISMS: International treaties (NPT, CTBT, Paris Agreement), International institutions (WHO, IAEA, Interpol), Intelligence sharing, Joint military exercises, Multilateral sanctions. INDIA'S COOPERATIVE SECURITY: UN peacekeeping (India is one of the largest troop contributors in UN history — ~5,000 troops in 2023). SAARC counter-terrorism frameworks. Indo-Pacific alliances (Quad). G20 climate commitments. Paris Agreement NDCs.

The key insight: security in the 21st century is COOPERATIVE, not zero-sum. One country's gain is not another's loss — all countries benefit from preventing pandemics, climate change, terrorism. This is different from traditional security where one country's army is another's threat.

India's Security Strategy — Five Components

1. MILITARY CAPABILITIES: Modernise armed forces. Nuclear deterrence ('No First Use' doctrine). Defend against Pakistan (conventional + nuclear) and China (conventional). Second-strike nuclear capability. 2. INTERNATIONAL NORMS AND INSTITUTIONS: UN peacekeeping. WTO rules for fair trade. Nuclear Non-Proliferation dialogue (India has signed CTBT de-facto through moratorium, but not formally). Opposition to terrorism at UN. 3. NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY CHALLENGES: Pandemic preparedness (CoWIN platform, vaccine production — India produced 60% of world's vaccines). Energy security: strategic petroleum reserves, diversification of energy sources, renewables (500 GW target by 2030). Climate action: net zero by 2070. 4. INTERNAL SECURITY: Counter-insurgency (Kashmir, North-East, Naxalism). CRPF, BSF, NSG. Cyber security. 5. DEVELOPMENT: 'The best security is a prosperous and just society.' A country where people have livelihood, education, and healthcare is more stable than one that is policed. Economic development reduces the pool of recruits for extremism.

The five components are regularly tested as a 5-mark question: 'Describe India's security strategy.' Give each component a heading and one explanatory sentence. Example for component 5: 'India views poverty and inequality as security threats — hence development is security policy.'

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Common mistakes & fixes

These are the exact errors that cost students marks in board exams. Read them once, save yourself the trouble.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying 'non-traditional security = non-military security' and listing only environmental threats

✓ Non-traditional security is BROADER than just environmental threats. It includes: terrorism (a man-made violent threat, not environmental), pandemics (biological), energy insecurity (economic), water scarcity (resource), migration (demographic), cyber threats, nuclear proliferation by non-state actors. Don't limit NTS to 'green' issues. Terrorism is the most commonly tested NTS threat after climate change.

WATCH OUT

✗ Saying traditional security is 'outdated' and has been replaced by non-traditional security

✓ BOTH traditional and non-traditional security are relevant today. States still face military threats from other states (Russia-Ukraine, India-China-Pakistan, Taiwan Strait). Traditional security — deterrence, defence, alliances — remains essential. NTS adds to traditional security, it doesn't replace it. India needs both nuclear deterrence (TS) AND pandemic preparedness (NTS). A country that focuses only on NTS and ignores military threats is as vulnerable as one that focuses only on TS.

NCERT exercises (with solutions)

Every NCERT exercise from this chapter — what it covers and how many questions to expect.

NCERT Ex s

NCERT Exercises

Questions on distinguishing traditional and non-traditional security; examples of non-traditional security threats; why cooperative security is needed; India's security challenges; human security concept; how climate change is a security issue

Questions

Practice problems

Try each one yourself before tapping "Show solution". Active recall > rereading.

Q1EASY· ts-vs-nts

Distinguish between traditional and non-traditional concepts of security.

▶ Show solution

TRADITIONAL SECURITY (TS): (1) THREAT SOURCE: Military attack from another nation-state — armies, missiles, nuclear weapons. (2) REFERENT (what needs protecting): The nation-state — its territory, sovereignty, and borders. (3) MEANS: Deterrence (making attack too costly), defence (armed forces), balance of power, military alliances (NATO, Warsaw Pact). (4) EXAMPLE: India's conventional and nuclear defence against Pakistan and China. NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY (NTS): (1) THREAT SOURCE: Non-military threats from both states and non-state actors — terrorism, climate change, pandemics, energy scarcity, water conflicts, migration. (2) REFERENT: Expanded beyond the state to include individuals, communities, and humanity ('human security'). (3) MEANS: International cooperation, multilateral institutions (WHO, UNFCCC), intelligence sharing, treaties, economic tools. (4) EXAMPLE: COVID-19 pandemic required WHO coordination, global vaccine production, and joint border protocols — no single country could protect itself alone. KEY DIFFERENCE: Traditional security is state-centred and military-focused; non-traditional security is people-centred and multi-domain. Both are necessary — they are complementary, not alternatives.

Q2MEDIUM· terrorism-as-nts

Why is terrorism considered a non-traditional security threat? Discuss with reference to the post-9/11 world.

▶ Show solution

TERRORISM AS A NON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY THREAT: Terrorism is classified as non-traditional security because it comes primarily from NON-STATE ACTORS (terrorist organisations — Al-Qaeda, ISIS, LeT) rather than nation-states, and cannot be addressed through traditional deterrence (you cannot deter a suicide bomber by threatening to bomb his country of origin). WHY IT DOESN'T FIT TRADITIONAL SECURITY: (1) NON-STATE ACTORS: Traditional security assumes states are the primary threat. Terrorism is carried out by organisations — networks that operate across borders, without a fixed territory to defend. You cannot threaten Al-Qaeda's 'capital city.' (2) ASYMMETRIC: Small, cheap attacks (the 9/11 hijackings cost ~$500,000 to plan and execute) can cause catastrophic damage (~$3 trillion in direct and indirect costs). Traditional defence budgets are not designed for this asymmetry. (3) REQUIRES DIFFERENT TOOLS: Intelligence sharing, financial monitoring (cutting off terrorist funding), border management, de-radicalisation programmes — not just military force. POST-9/11 DEVELOPMENTS: The September 11, 2001 attacks (Al-Qaeda, USA — ~3,000 killed) transformed global security policy. The 'War on Terror' began — involving: Afghanistan invasion (2001), massive expansion of intelligence agencies (NSA surveillance), creation of the Department of Homeland Security, new international cooperation mechanisms (FATF financial monitoring, Interpol database sharing). INDIA'S EXPERIENCE: 26/11 (November 2008 — Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists attacked Mumbai, killing 166) showed that India faces a specific NTS threat from Pakistan-based terrorist groups. India's response required intelligence cooperation, financial action against LeT, and diplomatic pressure on Pakistan — not just military response. CHALLENGE: Terrorism sits between traditional and non-traditional security — it requires military response (counterterrorism) but also non-military tools (intelligence, development, de-radicalisation).

Q3HARD· climate-security

How does climate change pose a security threat? Discuss India's vulnerability and its security response.

▶ Show solution

CLIMATE CHANGE AS A SECURITY THREAT: Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue — it is a fundamental security challenge that the military and security establishments of major countries now recognise. WHY IT IS A SECURITY ISSUE: (1) EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO SMALL ISLAND STATES: The Maldives (average elevation ~1.5 metres above sea level) faces complete submersion if sea levels rise by 2+ metres. Kiribati, Tuvalu, and Marshall Islands are similarly threatened. This is not a slow, abstract process — entire nations could cease to exist. (2) FOOD AND WATER SECURITY: Extreme weather events (droughts, floods, unseasonal rains) destabilise agricultural production. India's Himalayan glaciers — the 'water towers of Asia' — are retreating. The Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus, and Yangtze rivers, fed by glaciers, supply water to ~2 billion people. Glacier loss threatens long-term water availability. (3) CLIMATE REFUGEES: Bangladesh is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world — 25% of its territory is less than 1 metre above sea level. Projected climate migration from Bangladesh to India (already a politically sensitive issue) could involve tens of millions of people over the next decades. 'Climate migration is India's non-traditional security challenge from the south.' (4) CLIMATE CONFLICT: Resource scarcity caused by climate change can trigger conflict. The Sahel region of Africa has seen growing conflict between farmers and pastoralists as desertification pushes herders south into agricultural areas. Lake Chad (source of water for Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon) has shrunk by 90% since the 1960s — contributing to the Boko Haram insurgency. (5) INFRASTRUCTURE AND URBAN VULNERABILITY: India's coastal megacities (Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) face growing flood risk. The 2005 Mumbai flood killed ~1,000. The 2015 Chennai flood killed ~300. INDIA'S VULNERABILITY: India is the world's third-largest annual CO2 emitter (~2.9 billion tonnes in 2023) but has very low per capita emissions (~2 tonnes/person, vs USA at ~14 and China at ~8). India is one of the MOST climate-vulnerable countries — it regularly ranks in the top 10 of the Global Climate Risk Index due to: heat waves (2022, ~4,400 deaths attributed to heat), monsoon disruption, Himalayan glacier retreat, sea level rise threatening 7,500 km of coastline. INDIA'S SECURITY RESPONSE: (1) INTERNATIONAL: India signed the Paris Agreement (2015) and committed to Net Zero by 2070. Ambitious NDCs: 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030, 50% of electricity from non-fossil sources by 2030. LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) initiative. (2) DOMESTIC: NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority) coordinates disaster response. Flood and cyclone early warning systems. MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) driving solar and wind expansion. (3) REGIONAL COOPERATION: India has supported climate-vulnerable South Asian nations (Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka) with disaster response, capacity building, and renewable energy. India-Maldives climate cooperation. CONCLUSION: Climate change is a slow-onset, long-duration security threat that differs from terrorism or military attack in its timescale — but is potentially more damaging. The security establishment's engagement with climate (the US Pentagon calls climate change a 'threat multiplier') shows that it has moved beyond the environment ministry into the core of national security planning.

5-minute revision

The whole chapter, distilled. Read this the night before the exam.

•Traditional security: military threats from states. Deterrence, defence, balance of power, alliances. State = referent.
•Non-traditional security: non-military threats from states AND non-state actors. Individual = referent (human security). Requires cooperation.
•6 NTS threats: terrorism, climate change, pandemics, energy insecurity, water scarcity, migration.
•Terrorism: non-state actors, asymmetric. 9/11 (2001, USA). 26/11 (2008, Mumbai, 166 killed). Cannot be deterred like a state.
•Climate change: Maldives existential threat. Himalayan glacier retreat. Bangladesh climate migrants. Conflict (Sahel, Lake Chad).
•Pandemics: COVID-19. 7 million+ deaths. No country can protect itself alone. WHO coordination.
•Energy insecurity: India imports ~85% crude oil. 2022 oil shock. Strategic petroleum reserves.
•Cooperative security: no country can be secure alone. My security = your security. Mechanisms: treaties, institutions, intelligence sharing.
•Human security (UNDP 1994): freedom from fear + freedom from want. People, not states.
•India's 5-component strategy: military + international norms + NTS responses + internal security + development.

CBSE marks blueprint

Where the marks come from in this chapter — so you can plan your prep.

Typical chapter weightage: 3-5 marks

Question type	Marks each	Typical count	What it tests
Short Answer	3	1	Traditional vs non-traditional security (comparison); one NTS threat with example; cooperative security definition; human security concept
Long Answer	5	0-1	India's security strategy (5 components); terrorism as NTS threat; climate change as security issue; why cooperative security is necessary

Prep strategy

Memorise the 6 NTS threats as a list: terrorism, climate change, pandemics, energy insecurity, water scarcity, migration. For each: what it is + one example.
India's security strategy — 5 components: (1) military, (2) international norms, (3) NTS responses, (4) internal security, (5) development. This is a 5-mark answer skeleton.
'Human security' (UNDP 1994): freedom from fear + freedom from want. Individual, not state, as the referent of security. Know this for definitional questions.

Where this shows up in the real world

This chapter isn't just an exam topic — it lives in the world around you.

COVID-19 — The Ultimate Non-Traditional Security Event

COVID-19 (2020–22) was the greatest non-traditional security event of the 21st century. It killed 7+ million people officially (excess deaths suggest 15–20 million), cost $15+ trillion in economic damage, collapsed supply chains, closed borders, and required the fastest vaccine development in history. It showed: (a) cooperative security is essential — the virus didn't respect borders, and vaccine production required global supply chains; (b) the gap between countries with strong health systems and those without was a security vulnerability; (c) India's vaccine production capacity (60% of global vaccine supply through SII) was a genuine national security asset. The pandemic validated everything the security in the contemporary world chapter says about NTS.

Exam strategy

Battle-tested tips from teachers and toppers for this chapter.

For 'distinguish traditional from non-traditional security,' use a TABLE with three rows: threat source, referent, and means of addressing. Tables are visually clear and earn full marks efficiently.
For India's security strategy, the 5-component framework must be written as a numbered list with one sentence per component. Don't write a paragraph — the numbered structure shows organisation and earns full marks.

Going beyond the textbook

For olympiad aspirants and curious learners — topics that build on this chapter.

Study the CONCEPT OF 'SECURITISATION' from Copenhagen School theorists Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver: the idea that a topic becomes a 'security issue' not because it objectively threatens the state, but because powerful actors FRAME it as an existential threat requiring extraordinary measures. Climate change, migration, and COVID were 'securitised' — treated as threats requiring state power (military, border control) rather than normal policy responses. This raises questions about whether securitisation is always justified.
Read the UN DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME's Human Development Report (1994) — which first introduced the concept of 'Human Security.' The report shifted the security debate from states to individuals, arguing that the Cold War's military focus had ignored the billions who died from hunger, disease, and poverty — threats more dangerous than nuclear war for most people.

Where else this chapter is tested

CBSE board isn't the only one — other exams test this chapter too.

CBSE Class 12 Board (Political Science)High

UPSC Prelims (International Relations, Security)Medium

CUET (Political Science)Medium

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Questions students ask

The real ones — pulled from the Q&A community and tutor sessions.

YES — cyber security is an increasingly important non-traditional security threat that the NCERT chapter doesn't fully cover but is relevant for board answers. Cyber attacks can: (a) disrupt critical infrastructure (power grids, water systems, financial systems), (b) steal military and intelligence secrets, (c) conduct election interference, (d) disrupt nuclear facilities (Stuxnet attack on Iran's uranium enrichment, 2010). India has faced significant cyber attacks — including on power grid infrastructure (allegedly linked to Chinese hackers in the context of the 2020 Galwan border standoff). India established the NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY POLICY (2013) and the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In). For CBSE answers, you can mention cyber security as an additional NTS threat beyond the standard list.

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