Conceptualization
of Human Security
Abstract
During the 20th century,
particularly after the end of World War-II, security analysts started focusing
on human security. This brought a shift in the thinking of security analysts,
the liberalist perspective got currency, and individuals were deemed as referred
objects. This paper illustrates the evolution of Human security in international
relations that discusses the departure from the traditional notion of security,
components of Human security, and its significance for the other two paradigms
viz. National security, and International security. The contemporary world is
closely interlinked and this has been made possible by the process of
globalization and the colossal advancements in technology, particularly the
internet that has virtually converted the world into a global village space. In
such conditions, security remains a significant domain for both domestic
and global leaders. More importantly, a world fraught with competition and
conflict signifies the importance of security, particularly Human security as the
latter is inseparable from the security of a nation; the national security.
Key
words; Human Security, National security, International
Security, 20th century, traditional security, domestic,
globalization, interdependence.
Introduction
Human
security is an emerging concept that has challenged the traditional notion of
national security through military means. The advocates of human security
articulate that the referent object of the security should be human instead of
the state. The concept of human security was introduced in the UN Development
Program’s annual Human Development Report. It was defined as, freedom from fear
and freedom from want of all the persons.[1] The report further
highlights that development at well being is the most important area to secure
human beings from potential threats and buries the growing socio-economic
deprivations and disparities. This would in turn contribute to well being of
the people and thus would result in a secure society. The world can never be at
peace unless people have security in their daily lives. Further conflicts may
often be within nations rather than between them; with their origins buried deep in
growing socio-economic deprivation and disparities. The search for security in
such a milieu lies in development, not its arms.[2] This puts human
security at the heart of security in international relations that is contrary
to the idea that places the state at center stage. This leads to various contours
of human security and it encompasses several components under its main heading.
These include economic security, food security, health security, environmental
security, political security, and community security. All these elements of
human security are essential to meet human security conditions. Any society
devoid of the aforementioned features can never be at peace in this
contemporary world. For the said reason human security is considered as a human
right in the 21st century. Importantly, the notion of human security is
significant in order to achieve the other paradigms of security. The other two
paradigms namely National security and international security can not be met in
the absence of Human security in a society of states. Hence, it would not be
wrong to say that peace in the world hinges upon the security of the world and that
is linked with the above-mentioned three paradigms of security.
The the question arises here how the notion of security has evolved and assumed a prime
significance in both international and domestic domains.
Research
Question
How
did the concept of Human security evolved?
How
important is the notion of Human security for overall peace and security?
Literature
Review
Security
lies at the heart of international relations. However, security is a vague term
and has been subjected to various interpretations by various school of
thoughts. Political Realism has been described as the oldest theory of
international politics, as well as the dominant one. Central to the realist
tradition is the concept of security.[3] The proponents of realism
believe that state security is one of the important aspects in international
relations. For them state is the principal actor and its security is prime
objective of the statecraft. They believe that in the anarchic environment,
states must ensure security through self-help. In order to protect state from
external and internal threats, it is essential for states to either maximize
its own power or enter into alliances to balance the threat. On the other hand,
political liberalism, the paradigm that got influenced by the Enlightenment
philosophy, accorded primacy to the individuals in international relations.
Individuals along with organizations were viewed as important actors of
international relations. With this the security of individuals started gaining
prominence at global level in form of Human rights, doctrine of humanitarian
law and women empowerment laws and such other initiatives. All these endeavors
were aimed at to improve well being of individuals. The trend became a new norm
particularly after the end of World War-II and at the beginning of Cold War
era.
The idea of extending the concept of security
from state security to individual human beings was first articulated by
the Independent Commission on Disarmament and Security Issues in 1982.[4] The cold war era witnessed
high concerns and due to the earnest efforts of individuals it became
successful to gain space in the literature of UN, where systematic emphasis on
human security was seen for the first time in 1994. This report underscored the
significance of Human security for National and International security. Since
then, the paradigm of security includes Human security as its third leg
including National and International Security. The
concept of human security represents a departure from orthodox security
studies, which focus on the security of the state. The subjects of the human
security approach are individuals, and its end goal is the protection of people
from traditional (i.e., military) and nontraditional threats such as poverty
and disease.[5]
The departure from orthodox security concept human security entails human
building that is prerequisite for an overarching development and peace in the
world. The concept emphasizes that deprivation and disparities among people in
the society can risk peace and stability of the society. By ignoring the people
and focusing on state security is detrimental for the concept of welfare state.
States have come into existence, under the famous social contract, in order to
ensure well being of humans on which welfare of the society hinges upon. Thus, nations
have realized that security of its people is equally important as the security
of states and international security. As a result of this realization, human
security including its components such as Economic, Political, Health,
Community and Environment have a cardinal importance in the day-to-day affairs
in international relations.
Hypothesis
Human
security is an overarching concept pivotal for overall peace and stability in
the world.
Research
Methodology
This
is descriptive paper based on qualitative techniques to understand the significance
of the phenomenon. This research will be based on secondary data for keeping in
view the limitation of time and resources.
Components
of Security
The
phenomenon of Human Security entails a list of elements that are its essential
constituents.
1. Economic
Security
Economic
security or financial security is the condition of having stable income or
other resources to support a standard of living now
and in the foreseeable future.[6] It includes job security,
and financial resources to meet basic needs of life. It requires a basic income
that is helpful for individuals to have a satisfied people. Satisfaction of
people in terms of their basic needs inhibits the chances of violence and
guarantees social and physical wellbeing of the people living in a society. The
famous Psychologist, Maslow, place basic human needs at the basic level in
hierarchy of needs. He believes that conflict arises when humans are deprived
of these needs and lead to conflict and violence. The problem of unemployment
is a major constituent of chaos and violence in societies. The unrest when
becomes widespread threatens the national security and, in turn, endangers the
international peace and stability. Economic insecurity is a common problem in
developing countries, in developed states it is a rare concern yet it arises at
times.
2. Food
Security
According
the United Nations’ Committee on World Food Security, food security is
defined as the means that all people, at all times, have physical, social, and
economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food
preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life.[7] When biological and social
needs of the populace is granted, they population is said to be an asset of
state as they contribute to the national power. On the contrary, a population
facing food insecurity are deemed to be a liability on the nation. In the
latter case, this vulnerable segment of society is exploited by the enemies to
fulfil their heinous agenda. This is how it becomes a threat to the national
security of a state. Hence, it goes true that nations having a skilled
population and those top the list of Human Capital Development Index fall in
the categories of advanced countries.
3. Health
Security
Health
security is a concept that encompasses activities and measures
across sovereign boundaries that mitigates public
health incidents to ensure the health of populations.[8] Human societies are prone
to health-related issues. The vulnerability can be mitigated by providing with
a robust health care system that prevents fatal diseases such as Malaria,
Dengue and other diseases related to respiratory system. Developing countries
are rife with such disease due to poverty and poor living conditions. As well
as, these countries lack in effective medical facilities that fail to inhibit
pandemics and endemic. In developed countries, comparatively, endemics and
pandemics rarely shake the foundation of the health infrastructure. As it was
seen in the recent times during the times of Covid-19. The inability of a state
to secure its citizens from fatal diseases have adverse consequences on the
work force and the quality of human resources thus weakens the national
security.
4. Environmental
Security
Environmental
security examines threats posed by environmental events and trends to
individuals, communities or nations.[9] Environment threats
include floods, climate change, heavy rainfalls, droughts and famine. All these
catastrophes have adverse consequences on human lives and their economic
status. Consequently, it gives birth to several problems such as poverty,
unemployment, food crisis, economic down turn, damaged cultivable land and
deprives people of their precious lives. All these aforementioned problems,
with global warming as an exception, are common in less developed countries and
developed countries intermittently face them. As the physical infrastructure of
the developed nations can bear the rage of natural disasters.
5. Community
Security
Societal
security is a concept developed by the Copenhagen School of
security studies that focuses on the ability of a society to persist in its
essential character.[10] This concept emphasis on
the social relations of the people that has denigrated in the wake of sectarian
and communal based violence. Health of society is crucial for the progress and
prosperity of its inhabitants. Those communities having peace and stability are
happier and more satisfied compared to those living under a tremendous pressure
and threat. Hence, a progressive community is an emblem of prosperity
strengthens its national security.
6. Political
Security
Political
security is concerned with whether people, particularly the authorities,
live in a society that honors their basic human rights. The doctrine of Human
Rights (HRs) and humanitarian law and other endeavors term political right as a
fundamental human right. Thus, Political security is of paramount importance in
the nation state system. The complex nature of societies, at a times, violate
HRs in the name of National Security. The violation of this alienable rights is
highly condemnable in developed societies and are less popular in the under developed
parts of the world owing to the ignorance and power centric affinities of
governments. Violations of such rights are tantamount to deprivation of human
security that contributes to a downtrodden society having fear and chaos.
The
Correlation between Human Security and National security
National
security is usually viewed as securing of borders from threats.
The
threats in this regard are perceived as only external, the internal aspect of
threats remain ignored. This narrowly constructed view ignores the threats that
the citizens of a state pose from internal deficiency. In this contemporary
world with complex pattern of interactions, citizens don’t only confront risks
at border, rather the threats emanating due to internal weaknesses are credible
enough to risk individual lives. The Human Security is a broader paradigm that
takes into account all the factors to secure individuals from dangerous moves
from enemies of the state. By making Human Security effective, national
security can be strengthened. However, it is no denying the fact that both
concepts are inescapably interlinked with each other. They complement each other,
hence, leaving behind one weakens the other paradigm.
Conclusion
Human
security despite being a nascent concept has gained prominence in international
relations. The basic components of Human security such as Economic, Political,
Societal, Environmental, Personal, Health and Food security are essential for a
progressive and prosperous society. The concept is aimed at to bring about
changes that address the root causes of basic deprivations and disparities.
These basic causes of inequalities when removed guarantee a peaceful and
prosperous society. A society rife with deprivations and disparities of all
sorts can never be secure at large. The security of a society hinges upon
guarantee of all the basic components of Human security. Consequently, the
fulfilment of human security leads to an insulated National security. Both
these notions are interrelated and needs to be accorded equal importance.
However, the existing anarch in International System makes the latter
pronounced and thus the security chessboard tops always with state security or
national security.
Bibliographies
1.“Human Security.” In Wikipedia, December 31,
2020.
https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_security&oldid=997528035.
2.
Encyclopedia Britannica. “Human Security | Political Science.” Accessed January
14, 2021. https://www.britannica.com/topic/human-security.
3.“V.
Human Security and International Cooperation : SIPRI Yearbook 2019.” Accessed
January 14, 2021.
https://www.sipriyearbook.org/view/9780198839996/sipri-9780198839996-chapter-1-div1-010.xml.
4.Walt,
Stephen M. “Realism and Security.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of
International Studies, March 1, 2010.
https://oxfordre.com/internationalstudies/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.001.0001/acrefore-9780190846626-e-286.
[1] “Human Security.”
[2] “V. Human Security and International
Cooperation: SIPRI Yearbook 2019.”
[3] Walt, “Realism and Security.”
[4] “Human Security | Political Science.”
[5] “Human Security | Political Science.”
[6] “Human Security.”
[7] “Human Security.”
[8] “Human Security.”
[9] “Human Security.”
[10] “Human Security.”
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