Transforming security and development in an unequal world: introduction

Ruling administrations often determine security policy and direct its apparatus for the 'benefit of society'. But is security something to be grateful for, or a citizens’ right? Rather should security be determined by the concerns of ordinary citizens and so incorporate a range of perspectives to reflect the differing needs of the different sectors of society?

This introduction aims to reposition the security agenda (as does the subsequent bulletin) to reflect the concerns of citizens and in particular the poor and vulnerable communities in the global south. Regarding the latter the author determines that security, like development, is all too often seen as something the North delivers through its policy interventions and aid programmes, rather than as the product of changes in the developing south.

The bulletin itself presents a range of articles which illuminate the complex nature of security and the myriad of factors that can – and should – influence policy when considering the issue. The subjects covered include:

• community-based security and justice
• the gender and human security debate
• violence, identity and security
• political dimensions of security transformation
• global security policies and their impacts on the south
• security sector reform in authoritarian states.

The introduction also stresses the need for the development community to engage with security issues declaring that ‘they are far too important to be left to security specialists alone’ i.e. military and security spending divert resources from development, whilst war and insecurity are major causes of poverty and human misery in their own right, and tend to generate ‘development in reverse.’