Non-traditional Security Disputes of Sri Lanka

Abstract

From the 1970s onwards, social constructivists criticized the intense narrowing of the field of security studies imposed by the military and nuclear obsessions of the Cold War. Further, they argued that these traditional issues have not disappeared, but that other, non-military sources of threat now seemed more pressing. Hence, the nature and magnitude of security within the states should be considered from different angles such as economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, personal security, community security and political security. In the context of small states, the issue of security has multiple dimensions in the complexities of the state. Apart from the traditional aspect of security threats of small states, the non-traditional aspect is very important to identify the security threats of small states. One of the most important aspects of non-traditional security thus, is that people should be able to live in a society that honours their political security. In this broader context this study makes an effort to answer whether the political security of Sri Lanka is being challenged in the context of power political paradigm. Further the research problem has been answered by using standard research tool including descriptive and analytical methods and also the research involves both qualitative and quantitative methods. As a developing small state, Sri Lanka is an electoral democracy. The 1978 constitution vested strong executive powers in the president, who is directly elected for a six-year term and can dissolve Parliament. The prime minister heads the leading party in Parliament but otherwise has limited powers. The 225-member unicameral legislature is elected for a six-year term through a mixed proportional-representation system. Elections are open to multiple parties, and fair electoral laws and equal campaigning opportunities ensure a competitive political process. Despite the war’s completion and an improvement in security throughout Sri Lanka, the situation of political security remained grim. Some observers’ charge that centralizes approach of the ruling party of the Government of Sri Lanka has led to a lack of protection of political security. In this broader context, there is an argument that the situation of political security of Sri Lankan remains grim.