INTRODUCTION

Security is often thought of as something related to the state. In International Relations (IR),
protecting the state has been the main concern for a long time. This is because of Realism, a
theory in IR that focuses on the state’s military power and survival. In this way of thinking, peace
is seen as the absence of war – what we call "negative peace." Patrick M. Morgan says that
security has been about survival and safety of people and the use of force by states for different
reasons.

However, a new way of thinking called Critical Security Studies challenges this old idea. It
moves away from focusing only on the state and the military, and instead looks at security in a
much broader and deeper way. This approach has helped bring attention to human security. It
expands security beyond just the military to include issues like the environment, economy,
politics, and society. It also focuses on individuals, not just states. So, human security is about
the well-being of people, not just protecting the state. [ SECURITY IN THE HUMAN FACE]

HUMAN SECURITY: DEFINING THE CONCEPT

The idea of human security became more popular as people started to think more about
individuals than just the state. Human security is about protecting people and making sure their
rights and needs are met. This is different from the old way of thinking about security, which
only focused on the state.

Many people who study human security care about turning these ideas into actual policies that
help people. So, we see different ways of thinking about human security:

1. The first approach is very broad. It includes threats like poverty, hunger, and lack of
development. This started with the 1994 UNDP report, which said human security means
protecting people from hunger, disease, and repression. The goal is to make sure people are
free and can live a good life.

2. The second approach focuses on the harm caused by war, violence, and bad governments.
Many people, especially women and children, suffer from conflict, and this view says we need to
go beyond just thinking about states. [ NARROW APPROACH]

3. The third approach talks about other threats like HIV/AIDS, drugs, terrorism, small arms, and
human trafficking. It wants these problems to be part of policy-making.
4. The fourth approach combines the first three and brings in theories about security. It looks at
where insecurity comes from, who provides security, and who benefits. Some scholars also
study how insecurity affects men and women differently.

Human security has been shaped by development studies and policy work, especially through
the UN and its agencies. The UN’s idea of human security is different from the old way of
thinking, which was only about protecting territory and national interests. Human security looks
at everyday threats like disease, hunger, crime, and repression.

The 1994 UNDP report defined human security as freedom from fear (protection from violence)
and freedom from want (protection from poverty). It also said that human security is for
everyone, covers different kinds of threats, focuses on prevention, and is about people.

The 1994 UNDP report indeed identified four key characteristics of human security: a) human
security is a universal concern, i.e. it applies equally to all people; b) the components of human
security are interdependent, i.e. military and non-military sources of insecurity overlap; c) human
security emphasises on prevention rather than intervention; d) human security is ‘people-
centred’

HUMAN SECURITY: LINKING DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY

The 1994 UNDP report talked about seven areas of human security:

1. Economic security – making sure people have a basic income from work or, if needed, from
the government.

2. Food security – making sure everyone has access to enough food.

3. Health security – protecting people from diseases and health risks.

4. Environmental security – keeping people safe from natural disasters and damage to the
environment.

5. Personal security – keeping people safe from violence by the state, other states, or
individuals.
6. Community security – protecting people’s traditions, culture, and community from harm.

7. Political security – ensuring people’s rights and freedoms are respected.

The idea is that everyone deserves to be safe from these threats. In many countries, especially
in the developing world, problems like poverty, weak governments, and conflict cause insecurity.
War makes it harder for people to get food, healthcare, and education. This shows how
development and security are connected.

For example, in Sub-Saharan Africa, wars in countries like Congo and Sudan have made
poverty worse, leading to more violence. In fact, in the Congo war (1998–2001), only 6% of
deaths were from fighting. Most people died from things like disease and hunger caused by the
war.

The idea of development has also changed. It’s not just about economic growth, but about
human development – helping people live better lives with health, education, and freedom.
Amartya Sen’s "capability approach" says that development should give people the
opportunities to reach their potential. The UN’s Human Development Index (HDI) also measures
development based on income, health, and education.

In summary, human security and development are closely linked. Problems like conflict and
poverty feed into each other. So, to make people truly secure, we need to focus on both peace
and development.

Human Security: Important Ideas and Debates

Human security means keeping people safe and making sure they have what they need to live
well. But people argue a lot about what "human security" really means. Some say it only means
keeping people safe from violence (like war and fighting). Others say it also means giving
people access to basic needs like food, healthcare, and education.

For example, Amartya Sen says human security means helping people live full lives with
freedom, while others like Andrew Mack think it just means protecting people from war and
violence. Some people think if the idea is too big, it becomes confusing for leaders and hard to
act on.

Two main ways of thinking about human security:

1. Narrow View: Focus on "freedom from fear" (safety from war, violence, political problems).
Countries like Canada and Norway support this idea. They help by banning landmines,
supporting peace operations, and protecting human rights. As done in the 1997 Ottawa
Convention (the landmine ban) and the 1998 Rome Treaty (which established the International
Criminal Court). This also leads to an emphasis on protection of civilians, peace support
operations, and conflict prevention as goals for which they justify humanitarian interventions

2. Broad View: Focus on both "freedom from fear" and "freedom from want" (access to food,
health, jobs). Countries like Japan and the UNDP support this idea. They want to make sure
people have good lives, not just safety from violence.

Even though people disagree, they all agree that human security is about helping people, not
just protecting the state or government. Both views believe that safety and development go
hand-in-hand.

Human Security and the State

There’s a debate about how much governments should help with human security. Sometimes
governments protect people, but sometimes they also cause problems. Some experts, like
Bellamy and McDonald, think governments often create insecurity instead of helping.

Prevention vs. Intervention

Another debate is about whether human security should focus on preventing problems (like
stopping wars before they start) or intervening (stepping in during wars to help people). After a
report called Responsibility to Protect (R2P), it became more accepted for countries to step in
and stop human rights abuses in other countries. Some people like this idea, but others worry it
could lead to powerful countries interfering too much.

Security and Development: The Link

In places like Africa, poverty and war go hand in hand. If people are poor, it can lead to conflict,
and conflict makes poverty worse. Some experts argue that rich countries use this idea to justify
controlling poorer countries, acting like they need to "fix" them. This can lead to unfair power for
rich countries in the global South. This approach says that development (like money, markets,
and good governance) will bring peace and stop violence.
Gender and Human Security

Human security is also linked to gender. The UN Inter-Agency Committee on Women and
Gender Equality summarise five aspects: (1) violence against women and girls; (2) gender
inequalities in control over resources; (3) gender inequalities in power and decision-making; (4)
women’s human rights; and (5) women (and men) as actors, not victims. Women and girls face
violence in wars (rape, torture, trafficking), and they often suffer the most. At the same time,
women also play important roles in peacebuilding and even in combat. Feminists argue that
wars often hurt women to attack the pride of a nation.

The UN has worked on getting more women into peacekeeping missions, which helps local
communities. The UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations in its 2000 report demonstrated
that Women’s presence in peacekeeping missions improves access and support for local
women; it makes male peace keepers more reflective and responsible. The 2000 UN
Resolution 1325 said women should have a bigger role in peace and security, but even now,
women are not given equal attention in these areas.

The Role of the International Community

It’s hard to say exactly what counts as a "human security" action. But some important things
have been done globally:

The International Criminal Court (ICC) was set up to punish those who commit terrible crimes
like genocide and war crimes.

The landmine ban treaty (Ottawa Treaty) stops countries from using landmines.

UN peacekeeping missions help in rebuilding countries after conflicts. A UN Peace building

The UN and groups like WHO, UNICEF, and UNHCR help people through aid, healthcare, and
support during crises.

NGOs help with early warnings, relief, and advocacy.

Conclusion: The Challenges of Human Security

Right now, human security is still less important than national security. Countries spend more
money on the military than on helping people. Many countries focus on protecting their borders
and power, not their citizens' safety and well-being.
Also, some countries have borders drawn by Western powers, which has led to conflicts and
separatist movements. Authoritarian governments also limit freedom, hurting human security.

The "war on terror" has made things worse in some ways, as governments use it to restrict civil
rights and hurt human security.

To really protect people, we need to focus on freedom, equality, and inclusion. Human security
should be about people, not just states.