Problematizing human security: a general/contextual conceptual approach

Abstract

The article attempts a comprehensive review of the human security concept in order to question its utility for both research and policy-making. It notes the term’s interdisciplinary and extensively normative content that have facilitated its evolution into a successful security discourse. On the other hand, human security’s wide appeal has as a side-effect an extended conceptual polysemy inhibiting the cumulation of knowledge and the development of a relevant theory. Absence of conceptual clarity has also complicated its policy implementation. The article attempts to break the deadlock and move the debate forward by using the work of John Gerring and Paul A. Barresi on concept formation as an organizing device.

Keywords:

• human security
• concept formation

Notes

1. Oppenheim (1973, 1978, 1981, 1985) is perhaps the most notable proponent of this approach.

2. While in social sciences there are dozens of studies on concept formation, one may notice the absence of relevant treatises and applications in the discipline of international relations. The article of Baldwin (1997) on ‘security’ and the research of Guzzini (2005) on ‘power’ are perhaps the most notable recent exceptions.

3. For an authoritative research on deaths in wars and conflicts during the twentieth century see Leitenberg (2006).