In complex societies like ours, we are witnessing a paradigm shift in optimal organisation, moving from a Cartesian system based on cause-effect relationships to a systemic, multicausal, global, and aggregative approach, where the roles of causes and effects are interchanged. Naturally, the concept of defence as the container and protection as the content are immersed in these changes. Defence is the foundation of security, the primary need of a living being. Every animal postpones all its needs until it achieves a sufficient level of security to satisfy them.

At a physiological level, we often speak of our “defences”: lymphocytes, immunoglobulins, antibodies… Having a good “defensive system” is essential for life to develop fully. We allocate energy and physiological efforts to maintain this system, which performs its function “silently and without our awareness.”

At a sociological level, it’s worth recalling that sociology was initially termed “social physiology” (Saint Simon), with Auguste Comte coining the term “sociology.” As such physiology, it requires its defences to maintain society as an organised body, ensuring its possibilities, both individual and collective. The concept of defence today is systemic, multilateral, and aggregative. Moreover, it is included within a higher framework that encompasses it: protection, an attribute that forms the basis of security. Therefore, protection, security, and defence constitute a unit that, although structurally distinct, is functionally shared and merged. The era of compartmentalisation ended in the last century. Specifically, the Army, Police, Public Health, Firefighters, Civil Protection, and Volunteers resonate synergistically, multiplying their effectiveness when integrated or coordinated towards a common goal. This is demonstrated in emergency situations. All that remains is the citizenry, who, in addition to paying taxes to maintain the system, have the right to participate in it, based on their vocation, training, and capacity. ECOSED believes that the modern concept of defence is that of protection, which of course includes the classic notion of defence, but also security in the forms of police, civil protection, firefighters, medical and health emergencies, and volunteers, affiliated with existing organisations or those yet to be established, depending on the development of this new model.

ECOSED considers that there are four professional fields that form part of the first level of protection: Judiciary, Emergencies, Army, and Police.

The second level would comprise NGOs, and the third level would be the citizens themselves, driven by empathy and solidarity.

Furthermore, the convergence of defence institutions with others that enhance its effectiveness is indispensable for achieving results. ECOSED advocates for these synergies, starting with a real update, in substance and form, of the communication regarding what a serious defence of a modern country means, offers, and demands, moving towards creating spaces to share experiences, lessons, and expectations with the entire population; especially with young people, civilian volunteers, and individuals who have left economically productive life but are highly productive in terms of experience, particularly if they are motivated by a vocation of service, a spirit of solidarity, and a lifestyle contrary to idleness and mere entertainment.

ECOSED is both a philosophy and a model, as well as an invitation to incorporate security into life, considering protection as the result of successful effort, through the synergistic convergence of institutional, industrial, professional, commercial, technological, educational, cultural, and volunteer sectors.

We present below its dynamic structure and functional axes.