Globalisation, crime and rights : the quest for role by international institutions

Abstract

Concepts like environmental security, cultural security-or societal security are attracting the interest of scientists and of the public and policy-makers. Such security problems can be solved by means of international cooperation. Not just by means of mutual assistance among countries, but by international standards and norms, by world watcher agencies, by global strategies and the use of huge amounts of material and financial resources. All this requires action by international institutions. Means and solutions worked out at the state level have small and temporary efficacy. This is also true of an area of security closely associated with the fundamental rights of the individual. Usually referred to as public or internal security, it concerns the protection of individuals and people from crime and violations of law. A particular function of the state, public security - as almost all social and human affairs - has changed, today, due to the acceleration of the globalisation process which has almost overtaken the traditional sovereignty of nations.