Introduction

Human security is a modern concept of security that focuses on protecting people rather than
only protecting states. Earlier, especially during the Cold War, security was understood mainly in
military terms such as war, borders, sovereignty, and national defence. But after the Cold War,
new problems like terrorism, poverty, civil wars, climate change, pandemics, and displacement
showed that military power alone cannot make people secure. Therefore, the idea of human
security emerged strongly through the 1994 UNDP Human Development Report. It shifted the
focus from the “security of states” to the “security of individuals” and connected security with
development, human rights, and human dignity.

Meaning and Concept of Human Security

Human security means protecting individuals from both violent and non-violent threats. It
focuses on “freedom from fear” and “freedom from want.” Freedom from fear means protection
from violence, war, terrorism, and conflict, while freedom from want means freedom from
poverty, hunger, disease, and unemployment. Mahbub ul Haq explained that human security is
not about weapons but about human life and dignity. Amartya Sen connected human security
with human capabilities and freedoms. Kofi Annan also argued that development, human rights,
democracy, and environmental protection are important parts of security.

Human security is people-centred because individuals are the main focus. It is universal because
threats affect all societies. It is multidimensional because it includes military as well as non-
military threats. It is also interdependent because problems like poverty, disease, and conflict are
interconnected. Lastly, it is preventive and empowerment-oriented as it focuses on long-term
welfare and strengthening people’s capabilities.

Evolution: From Traditional Security to Human Security

Traditionally, security in International Relations was understood through a realist and state-
centric approach. During the Cold War, states focused mainly on military security, territorial
integrity, and protection from external threats. National security was seen as the responsibility of
the state, and military power was considered the main tool of survival. Security was linked with
“negative peace,” meaning only the absence of war.

However, this traditional understanding failed to address issues like poverty, environmental
degradation, famine, economic crises, and internal conflicts. From the 1970s onwards, scholars
of Critical Security Studies demanded a broader understanding of security. Reports such as the
Palme Commission Report (1982) introduced the idea of “Common Security,” while the
Brundtland Commission Report (1987) highlighted environmental threats. At the same time,
thinkers like Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen promoted the human development approach based
on capabilities and welfare. This gradually led to the emergence of human security, where the
protection of individuals became central.

Dimensions / Components of Human Security

Economic security means access to stable income, employment, and livelihood opportunities. It
protects people from poverty, unemployment, and economic instability through jobs and social
welfare measures.

Political security refers to the protection of human rights, civil liberties, and democratic
freedoms. It protects people from repression, torture, censorship, and authoritarian rule through
rule of law and accountable institutions.

Food security means ensuring that all people have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food.
Hunger, inflation, poverty, and unequal distribution threaten food security even when enough
food exists globally.

Health security focuses on protecting people from diseases, epidemics, and unhealthy
conditions. Access to healthcare, medicines, sanitation, and safe living conditions are important
for health security. Pandemics like COVID-19 showed how health crises can threaten global
security.

Environmental security means protection from climate change, pollution, natural disasters,
deforestation, and resource depletion. Problems like floods, droughts, and water scarcity
increase human vulnerability and displacement.

Personal security refers to protection from violence by states, terrorists, criminals, or domestic
abuse. It includes threats such as terrorism, trafficking, armed conflict, and gender-based
violence.

Community security aims to protect cultural identities, traditions, and communities from ethnic
conflict, communal violence, and discrimination. It is especially important for minorities and
indigenous groups.

Difference Between Traditional Security and Human Security

Traditional security is narrow and state-centric. It mainly focuses on military threats, territorial
defence, and sovereignty. The state is considered the main referent object, and military power is
seen as the key source of security. It mainly aims at maintaining negative peace or absence of
war.
Human security, on the other hand, is broad and people-centred. It focuses on the security,
dignity, and welfare of individuals. It includes military as well as non-military threats such as
poverty, disease, environmental degradation, and human rights violations. It believes that true
peace requires both freedom from fear and freedom from want.

Debates and Criticism of Human Security

One major debate is between the narrow and broad approaches to human security. The narrow
approach, supported by countries like Canada and Norway, mainly focuses on violent threats
such as war, terrorism, and genocide. The broad approach, supported by Japan and the UNDP,
includes both violent and socio-economic threats like poverty, disease, and environmental
degradation.

Another criticism is that human security is too broad and vague. Roland Paris argued that if every
issue becomes a security issue, then the concept loses clarity and becomes difficult to
implement in policy-making.

Realist scholars like Barry Buzan argue that the state is still the main provider of security.
According to them, without a strong state, individuals cannot be protected effectively. Therefore,
human security should not ignore national security and state sovereignty.

Some critics also say that human security is too idealistic because complete freedom from fear
and want is difficult to achieve due to limited resources and political interests.

However, supporters argue that states themselves can become sources of insecurity through
repression, violence, or authoritarianism. They also point out that modern threats like pandemics
and climate change cannot be solved only through military means. Therefore, human security
complements traditional security rather than replacing it.

International Efforts to Promote Human Security

The UNDP Human Development Report (1994) played a major role in popularizing human
security internationally. It identified seven dimensions of human security and emphasized that
security should focus on people rather than states. The UNDP also introduced the Human
Development Index (HDI), which measures development through health, education, and standard
of living.

The Commission on Human Security (2003), led by Sadako Ogata and Amartya Sen, further
strengthened the concept through its report Human Security Now. It introduced the idea of
“protection and empowerment,” which means protecting people from threats while also
empowering them to build resilience and capabilities.
Contemporary Relevance of Human Security

Human security is highly relevant in today’s world because many modern challenges directly
affect people’s lives. Civil wars in Syria, Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan have created refugee crises,
food shortages, and humanitarian disasters, showing that civilians are the main victims of
modern conflicts.

Climate change has also become a major human security issue. Rising temperatures, floods,
droughts, and resource scarcity are increasing human suffering and displacement, especially in
vulnerable regions.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that even powerful states can fail to protect people from
health insecurity, unemployment, and social disruption. It proved that healthcare systems and
global cooperation are essential parts of security.

Feminist scholars have expanded human security by highlighting gender-based violence,

trafficking, and domestic abuse. Postcolonial scholars focus on poverty, inequality, and
underdevelopment in the Global South, making human security important for social justice and
development.

Conclusion

Human security represents a major shift from traditional military-based security to a broader and
people-centred understanding of security. It emphasizes human dignity, welfare, rights, and
survival instead of only state protection. By including issues such as poverty, health,
environment, and human rights, it has widened the scope of global security. Although critics
argue that the concept is too broad and difficult to implement, human security remains highly
important in contemporary world politics because lasting peace and stability are possible only
when people enjoy both freedom from fear and freedom from want.