What is the main characteristic that distinguishes traditional security threats from non-traditional security threats?

The main characteristic that distinguishes traditional security threats from non-traditional security threats lies in their primary actors and the nature of the threat itself. Traditional security threats primarily involve states as the main actors and focus on military or political challenges to a state's sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence. These threats typically involve the use of military force or the credible threat thereof. Examples include interstate war, armed aggression, territorial disputes, and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. The focus is on state-centric security, where the state is both the primary provider and the primary object of security. Non-traditional security threats, on the other hand, extend beyond military and political dimensions and encompass a wider range of issues that can undermine the stability and well-being of states and societies. These threats often originate from non-state actors and can include issues such as terrorism, transnational organized crime, cybersecurity threats, climate change, pandemics, resource scarcity, and large-scale migration. The focus shifts from solely state-centric security to human security, which emphasizes the protection of individuals and communities from various forms of harm. Non-traditional security threats are often transnational in nature, meaning they cross borders and require international cooperation to address effectively. They can have significant impacts on human health, economic stability, social order, and environmental sustainability. For example, a pandemic like COVID-19 is a non-traditional security threat because it is caused by a non-state actor (a virus), spreads rapidly across borders, and has profound impacts on public health, economic activity, and social stability. While traditional security threats are typically addressed through military means and diplomatic negotiations between states, non-traditional security threats require a broader range of responses, including public health measures, law enforcement cooperation, environmental policies, and development assistance. The key distinction is that traditional threats directly challenge a state's power and survival in the international system, while non-traditional threats undermine the state's capacity to protect its citizens and maintain social order through diverse, often non-military, means.