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National, International and Human Security
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National, International and Human Security
Security Systems and Actors, March 26, 2024
Vendula Divišová, vendula.divisova@mail.muni.cz

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National, International and Human Security
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Outline
̶Different levels of security
̶National security
̶International security
̶Human security
̶Vernacular security
̶Group discussion

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National, International and Human Security
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National security
̶state is given a monopoly on the use of force only insofar as it is capable of protecting its
citizens
̶‘national security’ = all those public policies through which the nation state ensures its
survival as a separate and sovereign community → the safety and prosperity of its citizens
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National, International and Human Security
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National security: definitions
̶"… a nation is secure to the extent to which it is not in danger of having to sacrifice core
values if it wishes to avoid war, and is able, if challenged, to maintain them by victory in such a
war.“ (Walter Lippman, 1943)
̶“… security, in an objective sense, measures the absence of threats to acquired values, in a
subjective sense, the absence of fear that such values will be attacked.“ (Arnold Wolfers, 1952)
̶“Security itself is a relative freedom from war coupled with a relatively high expectation that
defeat will not be a consequence of any war that should occur.“ (Ian Bellamy)
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National security
̶national security as the absence of threats to acquired values through deterrence or defence
capabilities
̶security pursued by reducing vulnerability (implies a self-help = military power and economic
resources)
̶bias towards great powers
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Why (absolute) national security cannot be achieved?
̶security dilemma
̶risk of creating a militarised and security-obsessed society
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International security
̶focus on the sources and causes of threats →  aims to reduce / eliminate them
̶depends on the management of relations among states
̶agree to conduct their sovereign affairs in accordance with specified normative standards
̶principles, norms, rules of behaviour → some degree of order and certainty
̶international organizations and regimes
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̶criticism:
̶in practice depends on great powers + might lead to excessive vulnerability
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“The concept of security has for too long been interpreted narrowly: as security of territory from
external aggression, or as protection of national interests in foreign policy or as global security
from the threat of a nuclear holocaust. It has been related more to nation-states than to people.“
„Forgotten were the legitimate concerns of ordinary people who sought security in their daily
lives. For many of them, security symbolized protection from the threat of disease, hunger,
unemployment, crime, social conflict, political repression and environmental hazard.“

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Change of paradigm? Human security
̶NS and IS both view states as protectors rather than oppressors of its own citizens
̶states might endanger their own citizens
̶paradigm of human security
̶moral primacy to the well-being of men, women and children over and above the rights and interests
of states or of international society
̶different definitions - safety → well-being, human rights
̶freedom from fear + freedom from want + freedom to live in dignity
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Dimensions of human security

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Human Security Network
̶established in 1999, a loose grouping of states led by Canada, Norway, Switzerland
̶the task of promoting the concept of human security as a feature of national and international
policies
̶agenda for political action:
oelimination of antipersonnel landmines
ostopping the use of child soldiers
opromoting respect of international humanitarian law and the work of the ICC
ostop proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons
oprotection of civilians in conflict
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Responsibility to protect (R2P)
̶ICISS report (2001) - proposed the doctrine of R2P:
̶„State sovereignty implies responsibility, and the primary responsibility for the protection of
its people lies with the state itself.“
̶„Where a population is suffering serious harm, as a result of internal war, insurgency, repression
or state failure, and the state in question is unwilling or unable to halt or avert it, the
principle of non-intervention yields to the international responsibility to protect.“
̶applies to genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing
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Responsibility to protect (R2P)
̶prevention as the most important dimension of R2P
̶military intervention as an exceptional measure in cases of serious and irreparable harm occurring
to human beings (or imminently likely to occur)
̶A. large scale loss of life (genodical intent or not) as a product of deliberate state action /
neglect / inability to act / failed state situation
̶B. large scale ‘ethnic cleansing‘
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̶application of “precautionary principles“ (right intention, last resort, proportionality, a
reasonable chance of success)
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Human security approach: criticism
̶lacks a precise definition
̶too broad → little guidance for policymakers
̶not a useful framework of analysis for scholars
̶can justify (military) interventions in other states
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Rethinking security
̶The Ammerdown Group. „Rethinking security: A discussion paper growing insecurity“
̶established approach - identify threats and „neutralise“ them through „capabilities“ (mostly hard
power)
̶the military response has been ineffective and counterproductive
̶the goal of security must be grounded in the wellbeing of people in their social and ecological
context
̶priority issues: scarcity and climate change, inequality, militarism, violent conflict
̶need for greater understanding of the adversaries
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A holistic view of security
–Buzan: 3 levels of security - individuals (level 1) - state (level 2) - international system
(level 3)
–strong interconnections, they cannot be addressed separately!
–need for reintegration
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► systemic security - interconnecting all three levels
–taking account of the vulnerabilities of other actors, threat from one‘s own state…
–solution to the power-security dilemma (excessive vulnerability x provocation)
–stability of the system - by distributing the control as wide as possible across the levels
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Vernacular security
̶based on the constructivist approach to security and human security
̶it criticises speaking for people x talking to people / with people
̶security as a contested concept = different meanings for different people
̶What meaning do people attach to security in their daily lives?
̶a great plurality of meanings
̶securities instead of a security
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̶Lee Jarvis a Michael Lister (2012) Vernacular Securities and Their Study: A Qualitative Analysis
and Research Agenda
̶a project examining public attitudes towards security, citizenship and anti-terrorism policy
within the UK
̶(a) What kinds of security threats do people in this country face? (b) What are the main issues or
threats to your own security? (c) In what ways do you think threats to security have changed over
time, if any? (d) What does security mean to you? (e) Who do you think is responsible for providing
security?
̶= heterogenity of vernacular securities
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Vernacular security: example 1

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Vernacular security: example 2

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Vernacular security: example 2
What issues do the people of South West Cameroon perceive as the biggest threats?

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Vernacular security: example 2

Figure 1. The Principal Security Threats. Note: Other threats which form less than 3% of the total
threats mentioned were: tribal/cultural differences; exclusion; mob justice; western culture/demise
of local values; rape; poor mobile phone connection; rain; injustice; homelessness; lack of
opportunity; assault; pollution; death; disputes; bad neighbours/neighbourhoods; natural disasters.
When interviewees were asked to list five issues which made them feel insecure, listing the most
severe first, their responses clearly showed that security meant different things to different
people. Figure 1 below shows security threats mentioned which constitute 3% or more of the total
number of issues mentioned.
A hallmark of the data was how small the degree to which end-users agreed as to what
security/insecurity was. Out of the 1,525 threats mentioned by the 407 respondents, there was no
single threat that more than 50% of the respondents agreed on. In fact, less than20% of the
end-users agreed on one single threat as the most important threat.

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Group discussion
1.What meaning do you personally attach to security? Can you agree on a common definition of
security within your discussion group?
2.What dimensions of human security are the most threatened in your countries? What are the main
insecurities people face?
3.
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