5.5.1. Human Security

The concern about human security was reflected in the 1994 UNDP’s Human Development Report, which contends, "the concept of security has for too long been interpreted narrowly… It has been more related to nation states than people… Forgotten were the legitimate concerns of ordinary people who sought security in their daily lives."

Human security shifts the focus of security from states to individuals. The 1994 UNDP's report emphasizes that traditional security has mostly been about nation states and has overlooked the daily security needs of people. Security is not just about military might or borders; it involves the well-being and protection of individuals from a variety of threats in their everyday lives.

Imagine a small town that feels safe because it has a large police force, but the residents face frequent issues like poverty and health crises. If the police focus solely on crime prevention without addressing these underlying issues, the town might not be truly 'secure.' This illustrates the essence of human security focusing on the broader needs of individuals.

Human security is about the protection of people more than the protection of states. Human security and state security should be — and often are — the same thing. But secure states do not automatically mean secure peoples.

This chunk emphasizes that protecting individuals is central to the idea of human security. While traditional security often equates a secure state with a secure populace, this is not always the case. A government can be powerful and stable, yet its people may feel unsafe due to poverty, discrimination, or violence. Thus, the two concepts should ideally align, but they may not always do so in practice.

Think of a country with a strong military that often engages in conflicts while its citizens struggle with food insecurity and lack of healthcare. While the state might appear secure on the outside with its military forces, the everyday lives of people can tell a different story of insecurity.

Proponents of the ‘narrow’ concept of human security focus on violent threats to individuals, while the ‘broad’ concept includes hunger, disease, and natural disasters.

This section distinguishes between two interpretations of human security. The narrow view prioritizes immediate violence as a primary threat to individuals, such as terrorism or war, while the broad view encompasses wider threats that affect human dignity and well-being, including access to food, health care, and protection from natural disasters. Both perspectives are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of what it means to ensure human security.

Consider a public health crisis like a pandemic. The broad perspective of human security highlights that disease can create widespread fear and instability, affecting not only individual health but also economic security and social structures. Narrowly viewing human security might address immediate response to the disease but neglect longer-term impacts on communities.

The idea of global security emerged in the 1990s in response to the global nature of threats such as global warming, international terrorism, and health epidemics like AIDS.

This point introduces the concept of global security, which recognizes that threats do not respect borders and require international cooperation to address effectively. It highlights that issues like climate change and pandemics are challenges that every nation faces collectively, and thus, collaboration among countries is essential for safeguarding human security on a global scale.

Take climate change: rising sea levels affect not just one country but many, requiring nations to work together to develop solutions. For instance, if one region suffers from flooding due to climate change, it impacts its neighbors as well by causing economic migration and humanitarian crises.

High per capita income and low population growth make rich states or rich social groups get richer, whereas low incomes and high population growth reinforce each other to make poor states and poor groups get poorer.

This segment discusses how economic disparities contribute to security threats. Wealthy countries are better equipped to deal with crises and ensure security for their populations, while poorer nations struggle under the weight of poverty and inequality. This disparity creates a cycle that exacerbates insecurity and makes it more difficult for individuals in poorer regions to achieve stability and safety.

Consider two neighborhoods in the same city—one affluent, with access to resources and services, while the other is impoverished, facing crime and lack of opportunities. The residents in the affluent neighborhood may feel secure, whereas those in the poorer area might face continuous threats to their safety and well-being.

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