The Encyclopedia
of World Problems
& Human Potential

Military secrecy

Visualization of narrower problems

Nature

Exact information concerning a nation's offensive and defensive capabilities is known only to a limited number of persons, both civilian and military, within a country. Details and aggregate statistics, military weapon technology and military planning are all classified according to a hierarchical system of increasing degrees of required secrecy. Thus the public and its elected representatives have no knowledge of military matters other than what they are told by their government. Ignorance of military affairs prevents the public from voicing approval or disapproval. Under the cloak of military secrecy: imprisonment of political 'criminals' may be conducted; operations may be undertaken against labour or civil unrest; and inhumane warfare and war crimes engaged upon.

Incidence

In the USA, there was great secrecy concerning the Vietnamese War, the Bay of Pigs landing in Cuba, and the abortive rescue mission in Iran.

Claim

National defence depends on military secrecy. The vital nature of military information is indicated by frequent espionage activities reported in the press. However, military secrecy can be self-defeating by, for example, delaying the flow of information and decisions needed for defence.

Broader

Narrower

Competitive development of new weapons

Government secrecy concerning nuclear weapons testing

Non-verificability of compliance with nuclear power safeguards

Aggravates

Militarism ^{[in 4 loops]}

Nuclear war ^{[in 1 loop]}

Abuse of science

Unethical military practices ^{[in 3 loops]}

Unethical practices of national defence industries

Aggravated by

Competitive acquisition of arms

Military insecurity and vulnerability

Military manoeuvres in sensitive border areas

Reduced by

Treason

War resistance movements

Strategy(ies)

Maintaining military secrecy

Exposing military secrecy

Value(s)

Secrecy

Type

(C) Cross-sectoral problems

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

The Union of International Associations (UIA) is a research institute and documentation centre, based in Brussels. It was established in 1907, by Henri la Fontaine (Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 1913), and Paul Otlet, a founding father of what is now called information science.

Non-profit, apolitical, independent, and non-governmental in nature, the UIA has been a pioneer in the research, monitoring and provision of information on international organizations, international associations and their global challenges since 1907.

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Military secrecy

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA