Towards a security community for the Mediterranean

Disorder is a fundamental component of life and of the international system (descriptive part of the assumption). Danger and insecurity grow necessarily from this disorder.

Order is the value to be pursued.

Nothing exists in the international realm to prevent war. War is a constant possibility. Therefore, the most effective way to cope with this instability is to prepare for war (internal realm) and to impose order through direct or indirect violence (at the international level) - balance of power, hegemonic empire etc).

Disorder is a fundamental component of life, national and international communities (descriptive part of the assumption). From disorder may grow danger, insecurity and violence, but also opportunities of cooperation.

Plurality (or the right to disagree) is the value to be pursued

Nothing exists in the international realm to prevent war and war is an extreme case to solve international controversies. The best way to cope with the instability of the international system is to increase international tools to master disorder (international jurisdictions, organizations, ...)and to increase the effectiveness of cooperation within a given international community.

Individuals are functions of statuality's needs.

Statuality is a function of citizens' needs.

Mastering change through violence (polemos).

Coping with change through contractual rules.

The integrity of (and menaces directed to) the state territory, of physical border and values expressed by the communities that live within this borders.

The integrity of (and menaces directed to) the human being, of his/her « borders » of dignity and respect.

Security and the means to achieve it are deeply rooted in the geopolitical realities of a country, which are given facts, not subject to change (geographical position, demography, energetic sources, raw materials)

Security and the means to achieve it are deeply rooted in the ever changing challenges coming from the internal and international realm (environmental issues, ethnic tensions, immigration)

In the internal realm, absolute sovereignty increases the possibility to wage an efficient use of force and, therefore, increases the chances of survival of its community into the international arena (Hobbes)

In the internal realm, the de-absolutization of sovereignty is the best guarantee for the security of the citizen - juridification, divisions of power, spacial articulation (federalism), democratization [Kant, Locke]

The use of force by national or regional actors in the international arena. The creation of rules of the game (Ius in bello, ius ad bellum).

The juridification of international space. Domestication of the international realm. The creation of international institutions to guarantee universal human rights.

Globalisation as the most efficient road to the distribution of global resources and the management of technological issues. But globalisation (mondialisation ) condamns some areas to be forgotten forever ( l'oublie eternel ).

Regionalization as the best way to organize the most efficient use of resources and manage technological progresses. Regionalization and the policies of regionalization change through time and space. Countries which were considered neighbours at the time of Philip II are now distant entities and the reverse

The discourses on war (the culture of war)

The discourse on peace (the culture of peace and internationalism)

God as the source of legitimation for the use of force

Legality and rationality as the source of legitimation for the use of force. However, war is considered to be unthinkable within a security system recognized as legitimate by its members.

National interests, as defined by the leaderships and the strongest interest groups within a given state.

National interests, as defined by others, a paradigm (whether colonial or cold war) built up elsewhere.