Neo – liberalism and the Centrality of Economy in the New Conceptualization of National Security

Following the domination of neo-liberal paradigm over the conceptualization and framework of national security in the international political economy system, the main option for maintaining and expanding peace is strengthening economic interdependence among the countries, so that trade overcomes war and dispute. According to this view, since mercantilist states believe that the presence and function of international institutions and regimes encourage cooperation among states, interdependence in their relations can be realized. In such a system, security of each state depends on the security of others and collective security in which all states are required to cooperate with each other appears. Although, this view assumes that state is the key for reaching security, it argues that democratization and economic liberalization are prerequisites for achieving collective cooperation and realizing interdependence as necessary for safeguarding national security. In fact, economic interdependence reduces tendency for exercising violence.;
Therefore, it can be said that economic activities have become the main factor of promoting rational security in light of interdependence of states under the system of global economy.;