This year is the 20th anniversary of the release of the 1994 United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Human Development Report, which defined the concept of human security and brought it to international attention. It is thus timely to ask: where is human security today? The following is the sixth part of a series exploring the evolution of the concept and its impact on security thinking and practice.

20 Years of Human Security:
A special focus on economic security

By Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies
S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS)
Singapore

The 1994 UN Human Development Report defines economic security as one of the Human security components that requires “an assured basic income-usually from productive and remunerative work or in the last resort from some publicly financed safety net.” Economic security therefore envisions that everyone has access to a basic income and freedom from poverty throughout their lifetime.

However, economic security gaps remain within countries as well as between under-developed, developing and developed countries twenty years on. Under-developed countries face economic insecurity as a result of government failures to create basic safety nets for marginalised groups. Economists usually suggest a reduction of such expenditures, including healthcare and social welfare because it is believed that under-developed countries cannot afford such expenditures and that economic growth must happen first and then societies can provide for the social welfare of their people. However, it is argued that welfare expenditures can be a spike to economic growth, especially since they are labour-intensive and labour is relatively cheaper in poor countries. Existence of micro-finance institutions and the access of the poor to micro-finance and micro-credits are forms of recent economic security strategy.

Some developing countries face economic insecurity as a result of low government capacities to ensure access to jobs and a secured income.  Recently in the developed world's economies, high unemployment in the USA and Europe as a result of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis has exemplified a key aspect of human insecurity.

Economic insecurity & its consequences

In the 1944 Declaration of Philadelphia the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) mandate increased from improving working conditions to promoting more equitable growth "in conditions of freedom and dignity, of economic security and equal opportunity". The ILO now ranks countries on an Economic Security Index, which is made up of different but related securities namely decent representation security, decent work security and the real freedom to pursue whatever of the other forms of work-related securities they desire. With real freedom, civil and political rights can reduce the risk of major social and economic shambles by empowering individuals to criticise, ensuring that these views are broadcasted, keeping government up-to-date and triggering a policy response. This is so as to avoid triggering other forms of insecurity in many countries. For example, youth unemployment is believed to be one of the factors that triggered the Arab Spring in 2010. Indeed, youth unemployment is expected to worsen globally and poses a clear challenge worldwide. Therefore, economic security demonstrates a threat multiplier effect on global security.

New threats

Globalisation has fuelled more trade exchange, products and culture across countries forming a global economy network. As economies became interdependent, any threat to one country’s economy can create cascading effects on others. In sum, economic security can no longer only be obtained using traditional national economic instruments and policies such as a minimum wage, independent trade unions, the creation of employment agencies, skills upgrading program, and pension schemes. The economic security of individuals is now much more volatile and easily affected by events in other parts of the world. The 2009 Eurozone crisis saw 10 central and eastern European banks ask for a bailout in part as a result of the 2006 US housing market crisis. Private and government spending was restrained to lower debt to cut costs, which resulted in jobs losses. For example the ripple effects of the financial crisis caused an increase in European unemployment with Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece, and Spain being the worst affected. In turn, the Eurozone crisis had a spill-over effect on Asia as demand for commodity exports to European countries lowered. Ultimately the economic component of human security illustrates well the mutually reinforcing and complex nature of security threats the world faces today.

Core readings

• Helen E.S. Nesadurai, ed., 2006, Globalisation and economic security in East Asia: Governance and institutions, London: Routledge, pp. 23–39.
• Roland Paris, 2001, Human security: Paradigm shift or hot air?, International Security, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 87–102.
• UN Development Programme (UNDP), 1994, Human development report 1994: New dimensions of human security, New York, Chapter 2.

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CLIMATE CHANGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SECURITY AND NATURAL DISASTERS

News & Commentaries

• Ibrahim Thiaw, Working with nature to achieve sustainable development goals: An urgent imperative, sustainable development policy and practice, Guest Article #23, International Institute for Sustainable Development, 28 April 2014.
• Suzanne Goldenberg, Western Antarctic ice sheet collapse has already begun, scientists warn, The Guardian, 12 May 2014.
• Erica Salcuni, China coal addiction may make climate change solutions impossible, Guardian Liberty Voice, 14 May 2014.
• Singapore braces for worst “haze” as Indonesia fails to halt slash-and-burn clearances, Thomson Reuters Foundation, 21 May 2014.
• Suzanne Goldenberg, West Antarctic ice collapse 'could drown Middle East and Asia crops', The Guardian, 22 May 2014.
• Jan Piotrowski, Climate pact may depend on side deals by poor nations, Science and Development Network, 29 May 2014.
• Devianti Faridz, S'pore haze bill gets support, but some question effectiveness, Channel News Asia, 29 May 2014.
• Scores injured as earthquake jolts China’s Yunnan province, News (Australia), 31 May 2014.

Selected Publications

• Gerald C. Nelson, 2014, Advancing global food security in the face of a changing climate, Chicago: The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.
• Fergus Green and Nicholas Stern, 2014, An innovative and sustainable growth path for China: A critical decade, London: Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy & Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment.
• Institute for Sustainability Leadership, 2014, Climate Change: Implications for cities – Key findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), Cambridge.

Events & Announcements

• The World Weather Open Science Conference 2014, 16–21 August, Montreal, Canada.
• World Health Organisation Conference on Health and Climate 2014, 27–29 August, Geneva, Switzerland.

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ENERGY AND HUMAN SECURITY

News & Commentaries

• UK and Japan join forces on nuclear energy, World Nuclear News, 1 May 2014.
• Pilot projects using water sites to generate solar power launched, Today, 3 May 2014.
• PGN to acquire shale gas block in US, The Jakarta Post, 9 May 2014.
• Alexander Nazaryan, Why nuclear power will always be scary, Newsweek, 14 May 2014.
• Meghan L. O’Sullivan, Putin sees China as a gas-hungry ally, BloombergView, 20 May 2014.
• Jane Perlez, China and Russia reach 30-year gas deal, The New York Times, 21 May 2014.
• Fathiyah Dahrul and Fergus Jensen, Indonesia to start work on world’s biggest geothermal plant in June, The Jakarta Globe, 29 May 2014.
• Robert A. Hefner III, The united states of gas, Foreign Affairs, May/June 2014.

Selected Publications

• Tania Zgajewski, 2014, Shale gas in Europe: Much ado about a little?, Gent: Academia Press.
• Montserrat Abad Castelos, 2014, Marine renewable energies: Opportunities, law, and management, Ocean Development & International Law, Vol. 45, No. 2, pp. 221–237.

Events & Announcements

• Sustainable Development Conference 2014, 5–7 July 2014, Bangkok, Thailand.
• 2014 EIA Energy Conference, 14–15 July 2014, Washington, The United States of America.

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FOOD SECURITY

News & Commentaries

• Watchiranont Thongtep, ASEAN countries threaten food security by not working closely enough, an expert says, The Nation, 2 May 2014.
• Hotter nights may cause rice yields to fall, SciDev.Net, 17 May 2014.
• Matikas Santos, World Economic Forum exec notes impact of climate change on SE Asia’s potential to produce food, 20 May 2014.
• Dominic G. Diongson, Wanted: Younger generation of farmers to feed Asia, The Jakarta Globe, 22 May 2014.
• Don’t turn your back on GMOs yet, adviser urges China, The Wall Street Journal, 26 May 2014.
• Michael Taylor and Erik dela Cruz, Asia readies food security defences against El Niño threat, Thomson Reuters Foundation, 26 May 2014.
• World Bank sounds alarm on rising global food prices, The Straits Times, 30 May 2014.
• RI needs breakthrough to boost agricultural productivity: Expert, The Jakarta Post, 30 May 2014.

Selected Publications

• Laura Zselecky and Sivan Yosef, 2014, Are shocks really increasing? A selective review of the global frequency, severity, scope and impact of five types of shocks. 2020 Conference Paper 5, Washington: IFPRI.
• Gerald C. Nelson, 2014, Advancing global food security in the face of a changing climate change, Chicago: The Chicago Council on Global Affairs.

Events & Announcements

• International Conference on Asian Food Security 2014, 21–22 August 2014, Singapore.
• 2nd Annual AIDF Food Security Summit: Asia ’14, 7–8 October 2014, Bangkok, Thailand.

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HEALTH SECURITY

News & Commentaries

• Vietnam’s healthcare system gets US$106 million boost from World Bank, The World Bank News, 6 May 2014.
• Slow progress in Myanmar’s leprosy fight, IRIN, 9 May 2014.
• Kate Kelland, WHO wants action as alcohol kills 3.3 million people in 2012, Thomson Reuters Foundation, 12 May 2014.
• Alex Bookbinder, Additional aid to Rohingya camps may imply ‘permanent status’: ECC member, DVB, 14 May 2014.
• Reissa Su, Melbourne set to become first smoke-free city in Australia, International Business Times Australia, 15 May 2014.
• Julie Steenhuysen, Silently among us: Scientists worry about milder cases of MERS, Reuters, 16 May 2014.
• Human Rights Watch, World Health Assembly: Pledge to act on mercury, Thomson Reuters Foundation, 20 May 2014.
• Ian Sample, Antibiotic-resistant bugs need global response, say health experts, The Guardian, 22 May 2014.
• Refugees ‘struggle for cancer care’, BBC, 26 May 2014.
• World No Tobacco Day: WHO urged not to snuff out e-cig, Channel News Asia, 29 May 2014.
• Jeffrey L. Sturchio, World No Tobacco Day: Tobacco control offers proven public health benefits–Will China seize the opportunity?, Huffington Post, 30 May 2014.

Selected Publications

• Thomas E. Novotny and Elli Slaughter, 2014, Tobacco product waste: An environmental approach to reduce tobacco consumption, Current Environmental Health Reports, pp. 1–9.
• Charles Clift, 2014, Chatham House Report: What’s the World Health Organization For?, London: The Royal Institute of International Affairs.

Events & Announcements

• 2nd International Conference on Global Public Health 2014: Development Agenda at Crossroads, 3–4 July 2014, Negombo, Sri Lanka.
• 20th International AIDS Conference, 20–25 July 2014, Melbourne, Australia.

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INTERNAL AND CROSS-BORDER CONFLICT

News & Commentaries

• Malaysia’s peace-keeping contribution a ‘big plus’ to get UNSC seat, The Malaysia Mail Online, 17 May 2014.
• Lindsay Murdoch, Cambodia’s PM Hun Sen confirms controversial agreement to resettle refugees from Australia, The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 May 2014.
• Dana MacLean, Laos ‘land grabs’ drive subsistence farmers into deeper poverty, IRIN, 22 May 2014.
• Thomas Fuller, Political leaders in Thailand submit to military takeover, The New York Times, 23 May 2014.
• Lak Chansok, Can Khmer Rouge survivors get justice?, The Diplomat, 30 May 2014.
• Tension along Bangladesh-Myanmar border, Al Jazeera, 3 June 2014.
• Tim Hume, Fears of new unrest as Myanmar ponders monk-backed interfaith marriage ban, CNN, 4 June 2014.

Selected Publications

• The Myanmar Peace Support Initiative, 2014, Lessons learned from MPSI’s work supporting the peace process in Myanmar: March 2012 to March 2014, Yangoon.
• Sebastian Albuja et al., 2014, Global overview 2014: People internally displaced by conflict and violence, Geneva: Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and Norwegian Refugee Council.

Events & Announcements

• Training Announcement: Counseling in Trauma and Stress for Peace Work in Conflict Zones, 21–25 July 2014, Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Call for Papers: The International Feminist Journal of Politics Conference, Deadline: 31 January 2015.

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TRANSNATIONAL CRIME

News & Commentaries

• Bea Cupin, PH, Vietnam, China tackle transnational crime, Rappler, 13 May 2014.
• Thom Andrade, Russia, Malaysia seek pacts to combat transnational crime, terrorism, InterAksyon, 15 May 2014.
• Cecile Felipe, Aseanapol adopting proposals vs transnational crimes, The Philippine Star, 16 May 2014.
• Amanda Fernandez, PHL, Russian police to cooperate vs transnational crimes, GMA News Online, 17 May 2014.
• Allan Jacob, Terror groups on backfoot after drug seizures on seas, Khaleej Times, 2 June 2014.
• Mark Galeotti, Putting the ‘crime’ back in Crimea, Moscow Times, 3 June 2014.

Selected Publications

• Kamala D. Harris, 2014, Gangs beyond borders: California and the fight against transnational organized crime, Sacramento: Office of the Attorney General, California Department of Justice.
• Luke Watson, 2014, Suppression of transnational crime and the trade in illegal drugs, Norfolk, Virginia: Old Dominion University, Model United Nations Society.

Events & Announcements

• Gangs, Trafficking and Insecurity: XVII World Congress of Criminology, 10–13 August 2014, Monterrey, Mexico.
• 2014 International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference, 23–25 September 2014, Hanoi, Vietnam.

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WATER SECURITY

News & Commentaries

• Una Mullally, Why we should pay for water, The Irish Times, 12 May 2014.
• Minga Negash, Seid Hassan and Mammo Muchie, Misplaced opposition to the grand Ethiopian dam – Analysis, Eurasia Review, 15 May 2014.
• Nicholas Grabe, Ukraine may end freshwater blockade of Crimea, Guardian Liberty Voice, 16 May 2014.
• Jake Maxwell Watts, Singapore whets its appetite for innovation, The Wall Street Journal, 20 May 2014.
• Ubaid Mushtaq, Whose waters are they?, CounterCurrents.Org, 21 May 2014.
• PK Grover, Water: New ‘core issue’ in India-Pak ties?, Hindustan Times, 26 May 2014.
• Garikai Chengu, Water is key to Zimbabwe’s economic renaissance, New Zimbabwe, 26 May 2014.
• Adriana Gomez Licon, Drought headaches in Brazil’s WCup opener city, Associated Press, 28 May 2014.
• Water in Gaza – total collapse draws ever nearer, Irin News, 31 May 2014.
• Shane Hickey, A tsunami and no water to drink: How disaster inspired lifesaving invention, The Guardian, 1 June 2014.
• Cecilia Tortajada and Asit K. Biswas, The politics of transboundary rivers, Today, 2 June 2014.

Selected Publications

• The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread, 2014, Ensuring urban water security in water scarce regions of the United States, Racine.
• W.W. Immerzeel et al., 2014, High-resolution monitoring of Himalayan glacier dynamics using unmanned aerial vehicles, Remote Sensing of Environment, Vol. 150, pp 93–103.

Events & Announcements

• Science Summit for Urban Water, 13–17 July 2014, Harbin, China.
• International Conference on the Status and Future of the World’s Large Rivers, 21–25 July, Manaus, Brazil.

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About the Centre:

The Centre for Non-Traditional Security (NTS) Studies, based in the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), was inaugurated by Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Dr Surin Pitsuwan in May 2008. The Centre maintains research in the fields of Climate Change, Food Security, Energy Security, Health Security, as well as Internal and Cross-border Conflict. It produces policy-relevant analyses aimed at furthering awareness and building capacity to address NTS issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific region and beyond. The Centre also provides a platform for scholars and policymakers within and outside Asia to discuss and analyse NTS issues in the region.

The Centre is the Coordinator of the ASEAN-Canada Research Partnership (2012–2015) supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada. It also serves as the Secretariat of the initiative.

In 2009, the Centre was chosen by the MacArthur Foundation as a lead institution for its three-year Asia Security Initiative (2009–2012), to develop policy research capacity and recommend policies on the critical security challenges facing the Asia-Pacific. It is also a founding member and the Secretariat for the Consortium of Non-Traditional Security Studies in Asia (NTS-Asia).

More information on the Centre can be found at www.rsis.edu.sg/nts.

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