Towards a holistic approach to security

Transcription

1 When in Gothenburg Towards a holistic approach to security 1

2 When in Gothenburg Origin of the word security. 2

3 3 When in Gothenburg Security is. Well guess what again? There are many different ways to think about security. The term security has several decades of being redefined in the context of policy agendas of nation states. And in the context of individual human priorities. Security for whom? This means who is the referent object, or who is supposed to feel secure. Would it be the individual?, and if so, would it be some, most or all of them? Or would it be the state, the international system, and so on? Security for which Values? Since security is not an absolute value, it needs to be balanced against other key values, such as economic welfare, liberty, territorial integrity, environmental conservation etc. Security is shifting to give high priority to topics as poverty, trade, economics, human rights, transnational crimes and environment.

4 4 When in Gothenburg Security is. Well guess what? There are many different ways to think about security. Security is being redefined in the context of policy agendas of nation states. Security is shifting to give high priority to topics as poverty, trade, economics, human rights, transnational crimes and environment. The characterization of security as the absence of threats seems to encapsulate the essence or the central idea of the notion of security (Wolfers). Security as a low probability of damage to acquired Values (Baldwin) Security has to be defined in the context of international relations and diplomacy. The objective of human security is to safeguard the vital core of all human lives from critical pervasive threats, in a way that is consistent with long-term human fulfillment. The traditional security paradigm refers to a realist construct of security in which the referent object of security is the state.

5 5 When in Gothenburg Realism School Security is. Well guess what? There are many different ways to think about security. The referent object of security is the state Liberalism School The referent object of security is still the state but analyzed under 5 dimensions. Constructivism School The referent object of security is the relational dimension of the state taking multiple dimensions into account. From the approach of the Realism School, security and power are measured in militaristic capabilities within an international system. Security has to be defined in the context of international relations and diplomacy. Therefore Security is National Security. From the approach of the Liberalism School, security should involve five interdependent dimensions: military, political, economic, environmental and societal security From the approach of the Social Constructivism security as an inherently subjective value and a relational dimension where identities matter. Source:

6 When in Gothenburg What is Security? In 2015, Brooks published an interesting paper What is security: Definition through knowledge categorization?. He mapped the universe of security courses offered in universities and he categorized the concept in several levels and categories Associate Professor at ECU, Australia. Security Science Post-graduate Course Coordinator at Edith Cowan University 6

7 When in Gothenburg Finally, the perspective from Mark Tavanto called my attention. He has defined human security in relation to four interrelated pillars related to Freedom: Freedom from fear, from shame, from want and from vulnerabilities. Freedom from Fear is about human survival Sustainable Human Security integrates four pillars reflecting what we know today about human security, human development, human dignity and human sustainability.. The pillars of sustainable human security are embedded into the political, economic, social, and environmental responsibility to build capacity through a human rights based approach and sustainable capacity approach. Freedom from Vulnerability is about human sustainability and the protection of people from short and long-term natural disasters, especially through the reduction of man-made threats in nature Freedom from Shame is about human dignity and the recognition of the fundamental human rights of every individual, including respect and protection of all aspects of diversity Source: and the protection of individuals and communities from natural and man-made disasters along other situations of violence and conflicts Freedom from Want is about human development and includes freedom from want often visible in extreme poverty, recurring poverty and systemic poverty situations 7

8 When in Gothenburg What is Security? During the last 20 years the need for IT, digital and cyber security has risen too. Can we define what is security after reading these slides? It is important to rethink the notion of security from a holistic approach. If we can t define security, it is difficult to speak and communicate in the same level and terms within nations and stakeholders. Who is the subject of security? Why? Under what school of thought is it defined? What are the threats or vulnerabilities to security? What is the role of the government in relation to security? What levels of security? Can we return to define security as simply as to know that we can live, interact, have children and work in a place which is safe to our families and us to make our dreams come true? Thank you! 8