CENTRE FORNON-TRADITIONAL SECURITY
STUDIESAgenda•Non-Traditional Security (NTS)•RSIS Centre for NTS Studies•Consortium on NTS Studies inAsia (NTS-Asia)

What is Non-Traditional Security (NTS)?
•Focuses on non-military security threats•

Transnational in nature and defined in political andsocio-economic terms•

NTS threats do not stem from competition betweenstates or shifts in balance of power•

Often caused by human-induced disturbances to fragilebalance of nature with dire consequences to both statesand societies•

Resource scarcity, climate change and environmental
degradation, natural disasters, infectious diseases,transnational crime, irregular migration, ethnic
conflicts, arms smuggling, sea piracy and others•

These phenomena cause instability  threat to security•

Consequences often more difficult to reverse or repair.

Referent object of security people or humancollectivities, not just thestate!

Illuminating the Increasing Importance ofNTS Issues: Natural Disasters in Asia
140120
100
8060
40
200
1985- 1990
Floods1991- 1995
Tornados/Cyclones

1996- 2000
Earthquakes

2001 - 2005
Cold/Heat Wave

Source: UNOCHA www.reliefweb.int, (accessed 13 May 2008)

2006 Land/Mudslide

Promoting NTS Studies in Asia
• Since 1999, the RSIS has successfully conductedand managed a programme on NTS, aiming at
increasing awareness of a range of NTS
challenges and the need to develop regional
institutional capabilities as a response• With growing regional interest on NTS issues, theRSIS established the Consortium on NTS Studies
in Asia (NTS-Asia) in January 2007
• In May 2008, the RSIS NTS programme wasupgraded to become the Centre for NTS Studies,
which serves as the Secretariat of NTS-AsiaLaunch of RSIS Centre for NTS Studies, 6 May
2008, Traders Hotel, Singapore

RSIS Centre for NTS Studies - Missions• Conduct Research• Produce policy-relevant
analyses• Furthering awareness &building capacity to address
NTS issues & challenges inAsia-Pacific & beyond

RSIS Centre for NTS Studies - Objectives• Advance the understanding of NTS issues & challenges in Asia-Pacific by highlighting gaps in knowledge & policy identifying best practices of state & non-state actors’ response• Provide a platform for scholars & policy-makers within & outside Asia todiscuss & analyze NTS issues in the region• Network with institutions and organisations worldwide to exchange
information, insights and experiences in the area of NTS• Engage policy-makers on the importance of NTS
 in guiding political responses to NTS emergencies
 develop strategies to mitigate the risks to state and human security• Building the institutional capacity of governments, regional & internationalorganisations to respond to NTS challenges

RSIS Centre for NTS Studies – Key Research Programmes
Pandemics and Security Programme• Health and Human Security• Global Health Governance• Pandemic Preparedness and Global Response
Networks
Energy and Security Programme• Security and Safety of Energy Infrastructure• Stability of Energy Markets• Energy Sustainability• Nuclear Energy and Security

Climate Change and Security Programme• Mitigation and Adaptation Policy Studies• The Politics and Diplomacy of Climate Change
Food Security

RSIS Centre for NTS Studies - Outreach & Capacity Building

Long Sarou

Neth Naro

Mr. Long Sarou (Royal University ofPhnom Penh) and Mr. Neth Naro
(University of Cambodia) have recently
completed the Centre’s visiting research
fellowship programme for 2008. Under
the programme, Sarou and Narorespectively conducted research on“Livelihood Strategies amongst
Indigenous People in the Central
Cardamom Protected Forests,Cambodia” and “Migration & Human
Trafficking – A Case for Regional
Cooperation”.

RSIS Centre for NTS Studies– Publications

Books &Monographs

NTS Alerts

RSIS
Commentaries

NTS Insights

What is NTS-Asia?
• Currently a network of 14 research
institutes and think tanks fromacross the Asian region– Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong,India, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, South Korea, SriLanka, Singapore and Vietnam

Objectives of NTS-Asia• Develop further the process of networking amongscholars and analysts working on NTS issues inthe region• Build long-term and sustainable regional capacity
for research on NTS issues• Mainstream and advance the study of NTS inAsia

NTS-Asia Activities (1)First Annual Convention, 5-6 November 2007, Colombo, Sri Lanka

NTS-Asia Activities (2)Dissemination Seminar: NTS Challenges in Asia, 5-8 March 2007, UnitedStates of America. Three seminars held in IPA New York, CSIS Washington
DC and IEAS Berkeley University, San Francisco

NTS-Asia Activities (3)Subregional Workshops: Workshop on Humanitarian Emergencies andHuman Security, 2-4 September 2007, Banda Aceh, Indonesia. Jointlyorganized by RSIS and CSIS, Indonesia.

NTS-Asia – Research Fellowship Programme• A duration of 3 months• Choice to conduct research at any of the 14 NTS-Asia
member institutes• To produce a publishable research paper/monographprior to conclusion of the programme
2008-2009 Research Fellows– Ms. Manisha Sobhrajani, development-sector worker, Indian Kashmir.
Affiliated with several organizations such as WISCOMP, CDR and ICM.
• Analysis of Media Reportage on Gender-based Violence in Jammu and Kashmir– Dr. Xue Li, Research Fellow, Division of International Strategy, Institute ofWorld Economics and Politics (IWEP), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences• Sino-ASEAN Energy Cooperation: Limitation, Potential and Prospects– Mr. John Jackson Ewing, Teaching Fellow, Bond University, Australia• Security Implications of Climate Change – Case Study of the Philippines

Check Out the NTS
E-News!
• NTS-Alert’s timely issues• Worldwide Readership• 350 on mailing list and counting• List is not exhaustive as someare point of contacts who
disseminate e-news evenfurther

1%E-News readership byprofession

5%13%

Funders
CSOs/NGOs

note: some academics double up inNGOs and some government circles

16%

Govt/Diplomats
Academic65%

20%

Media

30%
7%

43%

South Asia
Northeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Non-Asia

E-Newsreadership byregion

Visit Our Websites
RSIS Centre for NTS
Studies:www.rsis.edu.sg/nts
NTS-Asia:
www.rsis-ntsasia.org
As of 24February 2009, the NTS-Asia
website for instance registered 35,058
visits, with a typical visitor having
examined 20 documents found on the site.