Human Security

Tracing the key evolutions in the development of the concept of human security, this book explores the various definitions and critiques, how it relates to other concepts, and what it implies for polities, politics, and policy. It charts the territory and structures the debate on a concept that is rapidly gaining importance in international policy making circles, responding to an intellectual need. In a globalizing world, in which threats become trans-national and states lose power, security can no longer be studied in a one-dimensional fashion. Instead, it must be conceptualized from an interdisciplinary point of view, taking into account a variety of variables as well as their interactions. Presenting case studies from different regions, Human Security contributes to this new multidimensional conception of security, showing its strengths and weaknesses, as well as its implications for analysis and action.