The concept of national security has expanded to encompass a state’s comprehensive capacity to protect its beliefs, values, territory, and political, economic, and social interests from external and internal threats. Indeed, it can be said that national security has moved beyond the concept of protection in its broadest sense to that of comprehensive development.
Robert McNamara, former U.S. Secretary of Defense and former President of the World Bank, states in his book *The Essence of Security*: “Security is development; without development, there can be no security; and countries that do not grow, in fact, simply cannot remain secure.” This definition, which emphasizes the evolution of the concept of national security and its encompassing of various developmental dimensions, leads us directly to education and scientific research as the two driving forces for achieving national security in its comprehensive developmental sense—that is, as scientific, military, economic, and social development; development of various Resources and capabilities; development of the state, society, and culture; and development of foreign relations and domestic policy—and here the pioneering role and national responsibility of schools and Universities come to the fore.
The relationship between education and security in this sense was emphasized by John Dewey; for him, education is the set of processes through which a society or social group—whether large or small—can transmit its authority or acquired goals, with the aim of securing its own existence and continuous growth,
There is no doubt that Egypt’s modern progress and the future of its national security depend on its ability to renew itself on the basis of sound, scientific planning—in order to achieve a national and societal project that consolidates the values of heritage and modernity and expands the scope of human rights, bridge the scientific knowledge gap between us and the developed world, and foster a strong, independent national character as a fundamental and essential step toward building a strong Egyptian state; for the first time in modern history, Egyptians have begun to think for themselves with a new mindset and an independent spirit, driven by a desire for a better future.
Hence, a forward-looking vision must guide the course of education, especially since those we are educating will graduate in the future, not now. This person of the future needs a new kind of education that offers them a way of life and a way of working… A new approach based on learning rather than teaching, research rather than rote memorization, dialogue rather than passive listening, and the ability to question rather than unquestioningly accept rigid ideas that breed terrorism and extremist ideology. As we rebuild the Egyptian state (the fundamentals of the new republic), we find that the challenges vary and the requirements differ. The national challenge has become the building of a new Egyptian citizen, the achievement of development (the Presidential Initiative: A Beginning for Building the Egyptian Citizen), and the establishment of a modern democratic state.
Therefore, the current phase presents numerous challenges: How can we focus education on ways of thinking, uncovering truths, and fostering a spirit of innovation, rather than rote learning, memorization, or blind obedience? This is in order to expand human knowledge and enhance the ability of students and researchers to utilize this knowledge to achieve the vital objectives of the Egyptian state, as this is one of the most important definitions of national security.
Last but not least… is changing the way citizens think and fostering a responsible, conscious, free, and critical mindset—one capable of harnessing, reflecting on, and developing all of these qualities for a genuine renaissance that is deeply rooted and firmly established. Educational institutions —from preschool to university—are not merely institutions for imparting knowledge to our children, but rather national institutions dedicated to national revival, upon which rests the greatest burden of shaping the citizen’s character, viewing the citizen as the essence of the state and the foundation of national security—not as a terrorist who declares everyone around him an infidel and deems their blood lawful to shed!
By Dr. Samuel Essam Ammanoeeil
Professor of Management and Strategic Planning – At Egyptian Universities