The Concept of Human Security - Essay Example

? Human security - A critical evaluation Introduction The concept of human security seems to possess immense importance in the modern world where human life faces a large number of threats such as international terrorism, diseases like AIDS, Ebola and other epidemics, war, environmental issues and poverty. These circumstances necessitate the formulation and implementation of innovative human security measures. There have been a number of studies carried out to understand, define and explain the concept of human security. The concept of human security could be observed in three different perspectives. The first one considers the protection of human rights and the second one focuses on the protection of human beings from economic, environmental, social and other forms of threats and aims at the well being of man’s overall livelihood; an element of social justice is visible in this conception (Williams 2008, p. 231). The third and most controversial conception considers human security in a much wider way ensuring the survival and health of individuals. It observes the concept in a global perspective and subjects such as global economic status, effects of globalization and health of the environment are considered as the essential elements of human security. This paper tries to make a critical evaluation of the concept of human security and in doing so the paper takes into account the various aspects of human security and related issues. The concept of Human Security: Debates and Definitions All the three conceptions of human security paved way for criticisms and most of the recent debates are shaped by the wider conception of human security. Yuen Foong Khong (2001), in this respect, argues that it is not wise to consider all aspects as equally important because it would result in making nothing a priority whereas Andrew Mack (2001, 2005) observes that a wider definition would hinder the ‘investigation of the very phenomena that need to be understood’ (Quoted in Williams 2008, p. 231). There are human security thoughts which fall in between the sharp and broad definitions of Human security such as the efforts of various international movements to eliminate the trafficking of light and small arms. It is possible to put a definition for the concept of human security in a broad way and that is “the absence of threats to various core human values” whereas Alkire (2002) holds that “the objective of human security is to safeguard the vital core of all human lives from critical pervasive threats, and to do so without impending long term human flourishing” (Quoted in Williams 2008, p. 231). Alkire’s definition seems to be more positive in nature. However, a more comprehensive definition is offered by the Commission on Human Security and the report of the Commission views human security as ‘protecting fundamental freedoms’- “protecting people form critical (severe) and pervasive (widespread) threats and situations. It means using process that build on people’s strength and aspirations. It means creating political, social environmental, economic, military and cultural systems that together give people the building blocks of survival” (Williams 2008, p. 231). Even though there are various definitions and understandings of the concept of human security, there are many who hold that the state-centered approach to human security should give way for a more comprehensive people-centered approach to security. Tadjbakhsh, in this respect, observes that “there is consensus among its advocates that there should be a shift of attention from a state-centered to a people-centered approach to security, that concern with the security of state borders should give way to concern with the security of the people who live within those borders” (Tadjbakhsh 2006, p. 5). Therefore, it can be inferred that an individual centered human security model assumes the safety of the individual as the means to global security and any disturbances to the safety of the individual would therefore affect the international security. Boundaries of human security Most of the resent studies regarding human security focus on the identification of boundaries of the concept. King and Murray (2001/2002) have suggested a measurable definition for human security as “the number of years of future life spent outside the state of ‘generalized poverty’” and here generalized poverty refers to a situation in which an individual falls below a certain level in any of the areas of human well being (Williams 2008, p.232). This definition necessitates choosing areas of well being, identifying practical indicators and assuming threshold levels for each of them for the operation and they considered per capita income, health, education, political freedom and democracy as the domains of well being. The theory put forward by king and Murray faced immense criticism as the mathematical formulation of their definition considered the number of years of life spent out side the generalized poverty alone, without considering the other issues on the domain choice and threshold levels. Hazem Ghobarah and his colleagues have attempted to give a better understanding of the concept of Human security by putting its different dimensions together. They made a cross national analysis of the long term effects of civil wars on the health of individuals by analyzing the statistics of W.H.O. on death and disability and they succeeded in identifying the delayed after effects of war such as increasing crime rates, property destruction, economic disruption and diversion of healthcare resources apart from the immediate effects (Williams 2008, p.233). Both these studies provide a better understanding of different dimensions of the concept of human security. The Human Security Approach The broad definition of human security goes beyond the mere prevention of threat or outbreak of violence. The concept of human security today addresses such issues as human right encroachments and seeks to offer solutions to both intra-state and inter-state conflicts. For Tadjbakhsh, the human security approach today “provides the means to assess the root causes of conflict (whether intra-state or inter-state), to propose adequate policies for resolving crises, and to provide the means for sustainable peace-building” (Tadjbakhsh 2006, p. 2). For this, it is imperative that human security policies aim at addressing such social and economic issues that pose threat to human well-being and security. A competent human security approach should therefore take into account not only the national and regional stability but human security policies also should cater to the preservation of the stability of political and economic systems that can provide stable secure feelings to the human beings.One should always bear in mind that the primary threats to human security are always internal which stem out of ‘economic failure, violation of human rights, political discrimination’ and therefore it is essential for the policy framers to realize that “the guarantee of national security no longer lay in military power, but in favorable social, political and economic conditions, the promotion of human development, and the protection of human rights” (Tadjbakhsh 2006, p. 4-5). Human security approaches aim at identifying all possible threats, avoiding them and mitigating their effects. It is also necessary that there exists a dexterous coping mechanism that would assist the victims to overcome the widespread insecurity that stem from an armed conflict, human rights violations or massive discrimination. The coping mechanisms should be both psychological and physical emphasizing the need to go beyond the concept of mere physical security in the traditional sense to ensuring social security. However, there are many who believe that human security approaches that try to focus on various aspects would pose great challenges to the policy makers and that such approaches would lead to inaction as immediate security problems may go unattended. Today, the concept of human security has assumed the dimension of a political discourse too. While preserving the sovereignty of the state and protection of boarders have been regarded as the foremost duties of the political government, political discourses on human security today addresses such issues as the state’s responsibility to provide for the well-being of the population and to ensure their economic and social development that would contribute to both individual and social security. Thus, the modern concept of human security focuses both on its development as well as the protection aspects. For Shinoda (2004, p. 10), the two main aspects of human security are “safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression,” and “protection from sudden and hurtful disruption in the patterns of daily life”. The author also holds that human security should comprise of both the territorial security and people’s security and this calls for necessity of providing human security in seven major categories. Thus, for the author a complete and comprehensive level of human security can be ensured only when people have economic security, food security, health security, environmental, personal, community, and political securities in their lives. Any discussion on the concept of human security cannot be concluded without showing its connection with international relations theory. Human security presupposes freedom from international dominion and equality of opportunities. Any nation that suffers from foreign threats or violence of any sort cannot be expected to maintain domestic or international human security. The United Nations envisages security as “the absence of, or the freedom from, threats to core values” of one’s life and these core values include an individual’s ‘physical survival, welfare and identity’ (MacFarlane & Khong 2006, p. 13). Therefore, unless and until people and nations have no more threats to their core values in life, human security cannot prevail. All these call for radical and comprehensive measures from the part of the governments, the policy framers, and international governing bodies. References MacFarlane, S.N & Khong, Y.F 2006, Human security and the UN: a critical history, Illustrated ed, Indiana University Press. Shinoda, Hideaki 2004, ‘Chapter 1 The Concept of Human Security: Historical and Theoretical Implications’, IPSHU English Research Report Series No.19, Conflict and Human Security: A Search for New Approaches of Peace-building, Viewed 10 March 2011, < http://home.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/heiwa/Pub/E19/chap1.pdf>. Tadjbakhsh, S 2006, ‘Human Security: Concepts and Implications with an Application to Post-Intervention Challenges in Afghanistan’. Les Etudes du CERI - n° 117-118. Viewed 10 March 2011, < http://ocha-gwapps1.unog.ch/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/EVOD-7BJEKZ/$FILE/CERI_Sep2005.pdf?OpenElement>. Williams, Paul 2008, Security studies: an introduction, Illustrated ed, Taylor & Francis. Read More