How Is Human Security Practiced by ASEAN+3? Event Held for Publication of a Research Compilation

Next, JICA-RI Distinguished Fellow Akihiko Tanaka, president of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), gave a keynote lecture on the relationship between the theory and practice related to human security. Tanaka pointed out that the concept of human security was introduced because of the recognition that the focus of security should include individual people in addition to the traditional “state.” He argued that the concept of “human security” is complementary to the concept of “human development” which is often defined as the process of enlarging people’s choices as human security directs our attention to downside risks that can hinder the process of human development. Tanaka then presented his theoretical framework of classifying threats to human security, which is used in the empirical chapters of the book. According to this theoretical framework, threats to human security come from three different but interrelated systems: physical, living, and social systems. Natural disasters are threats from the physical system, famines and diseases are threats from the living system, and wars, terrorism, economic crisis are threats from the social system. The study of human security, Tanaka argued, should analyze causal mechanism of the emergence of such threats and explore to find out effective policies to prevent them and reduce the damage when prevention is not possible or has failed. Because the mechanism of human security is complex, Tanaka concludes that case studies as demonstrated in the book are useful to increase our theoretical and practical understanding of human security.

Next, JICA-RI Visiting Fellow Yoichi Mine, professor at Doshisha University, explained the research process and the contents of the book. Mine said that the research consists of two phases: “concept” and “practice.” In Phase 1, investigations regarding development of theories were conducted in the 11 above-mentioned countries to determine how the concept of human security is viewed in East Asia. As a result, it was found that the basic elements of the concept had already been understood, and that it was considered that national security contributed to human security. Investigative research on the practices of Human Security was conducted during Phase 2, and the related book addresses 10 case studies, including the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Mindanao conflict, and South Korea's refugee policy. Mine introduced concrete responses to address human security challenges combining governmental protection and the empowerment of people.

During the Q&A session, many of the questions and comments from the audience were related to recent world affairs, such as “Shouldn't we further pursue the discussion of national security rather than human security?” “If national sovereignty is respected, won't it be used as a shield preventing action on civil war and human rights violations in countries ruled by dictators, and other humanitarian crises?” A lively discussion ensued, with Tanaka responding, “The concept of human security is both a normative concept and an analytical concept. Although it is unfortunately not all-powerful as a normative concept, it is significant as an analytical concept to verify the conditions under which human security can be achieved. Research on human security is also useful in the pursuit of ways to prevent the nation from wrongdoing.”