• Human security

Human security

This paper identifies some interesting and useful applications of the Human Security Framework. In particular, the reports of Afghanistan, Latvia, Macedonia and Bangladesh are reviewed in depth, as each makes strong contributions to the conceptualization of human security within a national context.

The paper is divided into two main sections:

• Section one, concepts and criticisms focuses on:
  • comprehensive analysis of the major antecedents that have, both intentionally and unintentionally, contributed to the emergence of the human security framework
  • the 1994 global HDR and subsequent documents and declarations that have helped to develop and refine the concept of human security
  • the risks of distorted narratives on human security, particularly those seeking to reframe human security in favour of the dominant interests of states and institutional agendas
• Section two, human security, national perspectives:
  • a brief overview of 13 NHDRs that have used a human security framework
  • a matrix of components which assess the ability of the reports to engage with concepts, classifications and specificities
  • core list of considerations that can be used in future reports as a focus for analysis and policy conclusions

Key conclusions and recommendations include:

• the country level perspective on human security obtained from analysing the 13 NHDRs reinforces the value of human security as an operational approach to people-centred security that is able to identify priorities and produce important conclusions for national and international policy
• the various objections to human security concerns and approaches elaborated in some recent academic literature hold little water when tested against the approaches and findings of the NHDRs reviewed for this analysis
• though the motivation of governments to implement policies relieving different forms of human insecurity will inevitably vary in different countries, human security analyses can still be of widespread importance and use even if not implemented

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