Indeed, one could argue that a security policy which is not constructed around the needs of man and humanity will risk the worst fate - being ineffectual. That is indeed borne out by the narrow-minded nationalistic policies that have led to so many wars in Europe. Most of the conflicts we see today are between or within states that disregard fundamental human needs. It is thus no accident that the last years have seen an increase in the demand for humanitarian actions. Yet despite the obvious need, we have found ourselves restrained by the principle of non-interference.
Democracy is equally important.
The root cause of conflicts in Europe and beyond can be traced directly to the absence of democracy and openness. The absence of the pressure valve of democratic discourse can lead these societies to explode into violence. Moreover, democracies remain far better equipped to deal peacefully with the challenges of modernisation and globalisation. An open and free media is the best insurance against policies of replacing historical facts with self-serving myths. And it remains a fact that open, multi-cultural societies are the best insurance against excesses of the kind we have seen in Bosnia.