National security

It is generally accepted that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the safety of its population as well as the state's economy and other institutions. This is often referred to as "national security" or "national defence." National security was initially conceived as protection against an attack by military forces; however, it is now generally understood to include also non-military dimensions. In a similar manner, threats to national security encompass not just the activities of other nation states but also the actions of violent non-state actors, drug cartels, and multinational companies, in addition to the consequences of natural catastrophes.

To ensure the safety of their constituents, nation-state governments may use a variety of strategies, such as political, economic, and military might, in addition to diplomatic efforts. They may also take steps to build conditions of security on a regional and international scale by reducing the transnational causes of insecurity, such as climate change, economic inequality, political exclusion, and nuclear proliferation. This would allow them to contribute to the establishment of conditions favourable to security.

The activities of foreign nations (such as a military or cyber assault), violent non-state actors (such as a terrorist strike), organised criminal organisations such as drug cartels, and the consequences of natural catastrophes are all potential sources of national instability (e.g. flooding, earthquakes). Changes in climate, economic inequality and marginalisation, political exclusion, and increased militarization are all examples of systemic causes of insecurity, some of which may have a global scope.

In light of the diverse array of threats, the security of a nation state is comprised of a number of different aspects. These aspects include economic security, energy security, physical security, environmental security, food security, border security, and cyber security. Other aspects include border security and cyber security. These aspects have a strong correlation with different components of national power.

As of 2017, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States are among the states that have organised their security policies into a national security strategy (NSS). This trend of organising security policies into an NSS is becoming more common among governments. In addition, some governments choose to install a National Security Council and/or a National Security Advisor. The National Security Council is an executive government entity that advises the state's chief executive officer on matters relating to the nation's strategic interests and national security. Plans for long term, short term, and emergency situations in national security are strategized by the National Security Council and Advisor. India now operates one of these systems, the first of which was inaugurated on November 19, 1998.

Although nations use a variety of approaches, with some starting to prioritise non-military action as a means of addressing the structural factors that contribute to insecurity, different types of coercive authority, notably military capabilities, remain the most prevalent. The breadth of these skills has grown in recent years. Historically, the majority of a country's military assets were either land- or sea-based; today, this is still the case with many smaller nations. Aside from that, the prospective battlefields of the future will likely include the air, space, internet, and psychological operations. The military capabilities developed for these sectors may be utilised for defensive goals, such as maintaining national security, or offensive ones, such as expanding one's territory and acquiring more resources.