National Security and the People

National security is generally regarded as being in the domain of the national government and armed forces. It is often not realised that the people of the nation constitute the foundation of national security. If the people are empowered to take care of their basic needs and are not exploited by the state bureaucracy and the political system, they develop pride in the nation and work in tandem to ensure national security covering social, food, economic and environmental security, as well as security from external aggression. On the other hand, an impoverished, incapacitated society breeds social unrest, violence and distrust in the state.

True democratic empowerment such that local communities control local resources to handle all local matters such as administration of justice, police, education, healthcare, land, water systems and forests while the state handles only higher level functions is the key to national security.