Abstract
The perception of security dangers — of multiple threats, challenges, vulnerabilities, and risks (Brauch 2005a, 2007) — and thus the security concerns of nation states and their people has significantly changed in many but not all parts of the world with the end of the East-West conflict. The security concept has widened, deepened and sectorialized, and the classic linkage between ‘peace and security’ — both in the Covenant (1919) and in the UN Charter (1945) — has turned to a conceptual quartet of peace, security, development, and environment (chap. 1 and 3 by Brauch, chap. 4 by WÆver; chap. 10 by Oswald, chap 35 by Bothe).
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The Compact English Dictionary gave this definition: “1. a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two alternatives, especially when a decision either way will bring undesirable consequences; 2. a difficult situation or problem” (Soanes 2002: 304). The New Collins Concise English Dictionary defines dilemma as: “1. a situation necessitating a choice between two equally undesirable alternatives; 2. a problem that seems incapable of a solution; 3. on the horns of a dilemma, a. faced with the choice between two equal alternatives; b. in an awkward situation” (Mc Leod 1985: 313). The Concise Oxford Dictionary sees a dilemma as an “argument forcing an opponent to choose one of two alternatives both unfavourable to him; position that leaves only a choice between equally unwelcome possibilities; difficult situation” (Sykes 1985: 268). Chambers Universal Learning Dictionary defines dilemma as “a position or situation giving a choice of two causes of action, both equally unpleasant” (Kirkpatrick 1980: 184). The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English offers this definition: “a situation in which it is very difficult to decide what to do, because all the choices seem equally good or equally bad... On the horns of a dilemma (be unable to decide between two unpleasant choices)” (Langenscheidt-Longman 1995: 380). The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary 5 2002, Vol.1: 680 defined dilemma: 1. In rhetoric, a form of argument involving an opponent in choice between two (or more) alternatives, both equally unfavourable. In logic, a syllogism with two conditional major premises and a disjunctive minor premise. 2. A choice between two (or several) alternatives which are equally unfavourable; a position of doubt or perplexity; a difficult situation.”
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Brauch, H.G. (2008). From a Security towards a Survival Dilemma. In: Brauch, H.G., et al. Globalization and Environmental Challenges. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace, vol 3. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75977-5_40
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-75977-5_40
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