Human Security

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

The multiple crises plaguing the world today make evident the mutual interdependence and vulnerability among people and nations. The idea of human security has gained increasing significance within this increasingly complex and interconnected world. The concept of human security extends well beyond the traditional analysis of the military and diplomatic efforts spearheaded by nation-states. Human security instead emphasizes the security needs of individual citizens, rather than being preoccupied by traditional, state-centric conceptions of security. It considers the impact of varied security threats such as cycles of economic crises, health pandemics, and the threat of climate change on the lives of individuals within and across national boundaries. Yet, while human security seeks to shift the focus of security from the state to the individual, the role of the states in terms of ensuring human security cannot be underestimated. While recognizing the responsibility of states to protect their citizens from security threats, this course goes beyond focusing on the traditional understanding of security, sovereignty, and international politics. It draws attention to alternative interpretations of what constitutes security threats and how to contend with the underlying causes of volatility and human insecurity prevailing in different parts of the contemporary world. The course employs illustrative examples from around the world to examine varied approaches, and to highlight linkages between the theory and practice of major human security challenges.