WHAT IS SECURITY?

By
Nadeem Khan
Fall, 2023.
Why study security?
• During the course, we will ask questions and will engage in
discussions to make you think critically about various forms
of security.

• Throughout the course, we will try develop your critical and

analytical skills by engaging you with reading and
discussions that will enable you to link theory with the
practice.

• Can you link the readings to security issues?

• Do you think security is “a man thing” or it is important for

women, too?
Some security related stories
• Raymon Davis
• The girls in Kohistan
• The women in Bannu
• The forests/corn crops and the fujis
• Should the state hand over its citizens to other states or
allow other states to kill its citizens, for economic
benefits?
• While talking about security, think about these
fundamental questions. Your philosophical approach or
theoretical perspective will determine your answer to
these questions.

• What should be secured? E.g. honor or women; financial

assistance or citizens; the forest or the fauji? (also called
the referent object of security).
• What does it mean to be secured?
(should putting the bird in cage be counted as security?
• How is security achieved?
(stop the building on roadsides, riversides first or destroy
them later?
Should the money be spent on educating the masses or on
weapons to kill them when they go astray?)
• The example of girls in Islamabad in 2007.
• Whose security are we talking about? E.g. the land, the
people, the ideology, or the specif group or organization?
• What counts as a security issue?
Like unemployment, illiteracy, health issues or poverty
could be counted as security issues?
A brief history of security studies
• The discipline of security studies rose to prominence
during the cold war (1945-1990). At that time, security
studies were focused mainly on traditional approaches
i.e., securing the state from external military threats.
A brief history of security studies
• After the cold war, scholars questioned the nature of
traditional security approach and argued that security
shouldn’t focus only on the security of state, but also on
the security of people.
• Bary Buzan, professor of Politics at LSE, published his
groundbreaking book in 1983.
A brief history of security studies
Professor Barry Buzan
Emeritus Professor
Department of International Relations at LSE
A brief history of security studies
• In his book, Buzan (1983) explained the three levels of the
national security problems:
1) the individual
2) the state and
3) the international system
A brief history of security studies
• It was Buzan who , for the first time, broadened and
deepened the horizons of the security studies from
traditional military centered approach to a diverse array of
dynamics.
• Buzan delelpoed a framework stating that security of
human wa affected by at least fie major factors, which
include:
Buzan concept of security
1. military,
2. political,
3. economic,
4. environmental,
5. and societal.
Buzan concept of security
• Buzan believes that these five sectors do not work in
isolation from each other, but they weave together a
strong network of interdependence (Buzan, 1991)
• According to Buzan, the state is formed by three
components,
a) the idea of the state (nationalism),
b) the physical base of the state (people, resources, and
technology), and
c) the institutional framework of the state (political and
administrative system).
Enters a Pakistani- Mahbub ul Haq
• Pakistani economist Dr Mahbub ul Haq created the
Human Development Index (HDI) in 1990.
• The index is used all over the world by the United Nations
Development Program (UNDP) to measure the country's
Human development.
Who was Mahbub ul-Haq?
• Mahbub ul-Haq (1934-1998) was a Pakistani economist,
international development theorist, and politician who
served as the Minister of Finance of Pakistan from 10
April 1985 to 28 January 1986.
Mahbub ul-Haq (1934-1998)
• Haq was born in 1934 in Jammu, in pre-partition India. He
even served his government as finance, commerce, and
planning minister until 1988. He has done more for the
human development agenda as a finance minister than
any of his predecessors. In 1989, Haq moved to New York
to work as a special advisor to the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP) administrator and set
up the Human Development Report Office to produce an
annual report.
• Human Development Reports (HDR) have been published
annually since 1990 by UNDP and have received as much
attention as no other UN report. In less than a decade, it
has become an agenda for action for the government and
NGOs in terms of development economics.
• Human development was originally defined as a "process
of expanding people’s choices." Widening the choices to
live a healthy life, to be educated, and to have access to
resources. Additional choices include political freedom
and guaranteed human rights.
• Another aspect of human development is the "formation of
human capabilities," such as improved skills and
knowledge. When capabilities are enhanced, his choices
also widen, and he is capable of exercising his choices.
The subsequent HDRs elaborated on the definition by
including the role of good governance—state, civil society,
and MNCs—in creating an enabling environment.
• Haq constructed the Human Development Index (HDI),

which measures human development in terms of longevity,

knowledge, and living standards, with equal weight assigned
to each. Longevity is measured by life expectancy at birth;
knowledge is measured by a combination of adult literacy
and combined primary, secondary, and tertiary enrollment
ratios; and, finally, standard of living is measured by real
GDP per capita valued in terms of purchasing power parity.
• Apart from establishing the HDI, he also introduced the
concept of Human Security.
Dr Haq’s concept of Human Security
• “The world can never be at peace unless people have

security in their daily lives. Future conflicts may often be

within nations rather than between them-with their origins
buried deep in growing socio-economic deprivation and
disparities. The search for security in such a milieu lies in
development, not in arms.” UNDP-HDR 1994
• Over 30 years ago, Mahbub ul Haq drew global attention to the

concept of human security in the United Nations Development

Programme's 1994 Human Development Report which aimed to

influence the UN's 1995 World Summit on Social Development in

Copenhagen.

• A Human Security (HS) analysis encompasses a people-centred,

multi-disciplinary comprehension of security, and involves a variety of

research fields, including development studies, sociology, economics,

international relations, environmental studies, and human rights.

• This thematic group aims to revive the interest of Human Security

studies within the Human Development and Capabilities paradigms,

while pulling in other works that have been conducted in this area over

the past thirty years.

• Additionally, it seeks to enrich the Human Security academic debate in

human development circles by including new developments in sister

fields, including humanitarian studies (law), feminist security studies

(gender studies), economics and development studies and

environmental change studies (environmental science) to name a few.

From state to human security
quotes
• Read the following quote and give relevant examples from
your country and society, taking insights from the readings
you have done.
Can you link Maslow’s theory with HS and HD?
 Law

Human
Security

Management
Economics Sciences
Recommended Books
 Here are some core textbooks in security studies that cover a
range of theoretical perspectives and issues:
 "Security Studies: An Introduction" by Paul D. Williams:
 This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of
security studies, covering key concepts, theories, and contemporary
security challenges. It offers a balanced overview of traditional and
critical approaches.
 "International Security: The Contemporary Agenda" by
Roland Dannreuther:
 Addressing a broad range of security issues, this textbook explores
topics such as conflict, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and
environmental security. It provides students with a solid understanding
of the current security landscape.
 "Introduction to International Relations: Theories and
Approaches" by Robert Jackson and Georg Sørensen:
 While not solely focused on security studies, this textbook is an
excellent resource for understanding the foundational theories and
approaches in international relations, including realism, liberalism, and
constructivism.
 "Security Studies: A Reader" edited by David H. Dunn:
 This edited volume brings together key readings from various scholars
in the field of security studies. It covers a wide range of topics,
including traditional security, human security, and critical approaches.
• "Theories of War and Peace" by Michael Doyle and Nicholas
Sambanis:
• Focusing on the causes of war and the conditions for peace, this textbook
delves into different theoretical perspectives, including realism, liberalism, and
constructivism. It provides a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of
conflict and cooperation.
• "International Security: Problems and Solutions" by Michael E.
Brown, Owen R. Cote Jr., Sean M. Lynn-Jones, and Steven E.
Miller:
• This book offers a comprehensive examination of contemporary security
challenges, such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and regional conflicts. It
includes contributions from leading scholars in the field.
• "Understanding Global Security" by Peter Hough:
• Covering a wide range of security issues, this textbook explores traditional and
non-traditional security threats, including terrorism, environmental security,
and human security. It provides a global perspective on security challenges.
• "The Globalization of World Politics: An Introduction to
International Relations" edited by John Baylis, Steve Smith, and
Patricia Owens:
• Widely used in international relations courses, this textbook offers a
comprehensive overview of key issues in global politics, including security
studies. It covers various theoretical perspectives and includes contributions
from leading scholars.
• "Contemporary Security Studies" by Alan Collins:
• This textbook covers the breadth of security studies, offering insights into
traditional and non-traditional security challenges. It includes chapters on
terrorism, intelligence, and the impact of globalization on security.
• "Security: A New Framework for Analysis" by Barry Buzan:
• Buzan's influential work provides a conceptual framework for analyzing
security beyond traditional military concerns. It introduces the idea of the
security complex and challenges conventional understandings of security.
• "Security Studies: Critical Concepts in International
Relations" edited by Edward A. Kolodziej and Roger E.
Kanet:
• This multi-volume collection compiles key articles and excerpts from
classic and contemporary writings in security studies. It offers a
comprehensive resource for students and scholars alike.
• These textbooks cover a range of topics within security studies,
providing students and readers with a solid foundation in the
field. Depending on your specific interests, you may find
certain texts more relevant to your studies.