My first introduction to the concept of human security was from the Human Security Report Project at Simon Fraser University. As a political scientist, I knew of many conceptualizations of conflict, but had never heard about human security. At that early stage of my education, I was developing my first personal opinions on conflict, what it is, and what it is not. From an undergraduate background focusing on global health, my view of conflict went beyond the traditional focus. Conflict are more than generals, tactics, and strategy. Conflict are also about damaged roads, fleeing civilians, and a loss of stability. That idea crystalized when I stumbled upon this definition of human security:
“Unlike traditional concepts of security, which focus on defending borders from external military threats, human security is concerned with the security of individuals.”
The sentence encapsulated my own beliefs eloquently and simply. Conflicts threaten people. Since then, I have been an avid follower of the Human Security Report Project. Now, the project is using two blogs to offer a human security perspective on AfPak. Both the Afghanistan and Pakistan Conflict Monitors are aggregators of human security information on the conflicts and are worthwhile readings for anyone in the field. Check them out.
Christopher R. Albon is a Ph.D. candidate specializing in armed conflict, public health, human security, and health diplomacy.
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