3. Bystander effect: global risks have
less perceived national security importance
The
focus of each country is on risks to that specific country. Global risks are
only considered if they are well understood, like nuclear war or global
warming. As a result, there is a bystander effect1 or "Tragedy
of the Commons" whereby risks that threaten us all but no particular nation
individually are poorly analyzed and prepared for. This is analogous to how a
collapsed person in a busy area is less likely to be helped than if they are in
a less populated area.