Recommendations: Desecuritization, Prioritization and Defensive Foreign Policy

Abstract

This chapter suggests a new framework of foreign policy through prioritization. Given the limits of the material world and the enormous threats presented to states, the author suggests prioritizing certain threats over others. Prioritization theory establishes a ranked order of the systemic vulnerabilities discussed in the book. This framework denotes desecuritization, which causes other threats to be moved up or down the ranked order. The prioritization process frees up resources, both material and human, to deal with the more urgent threats. The author recommends economic development as the main means of prevention before threats becoming realities. This chapter presents an illustration of ideal practices that should be enforced in light of the more pertinent threats to human survival. Defensive foreign policy strategy is developed as a pragmatic option to deal with systemic vulnerabilities.