Reading notes on The UN and Human Security the Development Dimension and Human Development Report 1994

The central idea of these two articles focused mainly on the discussion on human development and how it extends and correlates to the concept of human security as perceived by United Nations, regional organizations and states. There were three main arguments that were presented in order to further support and examine this notion. First is the in-depth discussion of human development leading to human security, second is the discussion on the structural causes of conflict and how it contributes to instability and finally it also tackled the condition of human security and how it is perceived in the status quo.

For the first argument, participation was highlighted as an essential theme in the discussion of human security. It was emphasized that people empowerment is important since development is focused primarily on helping people take control of their lives. In this notion, it was stressed that the concept of security must change from just national security to the well-being and security of much greater population. This notion was supported by the evidences provided by Human Development Report in 1994 which embraces human development and human security as essential components of universalism. Furthermore, it was recognized in the report that the path to peace was sustainable development for without peace, there may be no development but without development, peace may be threatened.

This Human Development Report 1994 was basically compiled as a reference of United Nations Development Program (UNDP) for the 1995 Copenhagen World Summit for Social Development. In the Social Summit, it was acknowledged that indeed social justice and social development are requirements to attain a peaceful community.

The second argument revolved around the structural causes of conflict and how it can contribute to instability. There were three structural causes of conflict that were presented in the article poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity. It was claimed that these three factors enables individual economic insecurity and it mitigates conflict among a certain society. The argument then is that the solution for these individual insecurities not to take place is human development.

A research was done by Carnegie Foundation regarding the occurrence of post-Cold War conflict among states and how the international organizations can help in curbing these deadly feuds. In the final report, it was found out that the increasing incident of post-war conflict is mainly because of the sudden economic deterioration and scarcity of resources among nations that they now compete for strengthening their economies.  Basing on these drawn conclusions, it was then noted the utmost importance of economic preservation and recovery as a tool in conflict prevention and management.

The General Assembly of United Nations then took up the matter of development to prevent war and conflict among nations. As a response, the Assembly acknowledged and stressed the significance of anti-poverty strategies, the assurance of equity in development and the pursuit of food security as elements of peace building in its Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace in 1998.

The last argument which was presented in the article is the perception of human security in status quo. It was presented in the article that human security at these times focused merely on people as well as the states responsibility of securing their well-being and safety and acknowledging the individual and communities to take control of their lives. It set Japan as a primary example in promoting sustainable human development through sponsoring Trust Fund for Human Security. This program aims to make grants to fund UN agencies and any other affiliated associations that promote human security. It aims to alleviate poverty, rehabilitate schools and hospitals and enhance public services and fund other programs that may help to develop human lives.

In this final argument, the people-centered concept of human security highlighted physical protection, human rights and development. It now redefined human security as protecting human lives by ensuring their freedom and contentment. According to the article, state and human security, in this perspective, is complementary. It also suggested the emphasis on economic welfare vis--vis protecting the essential component of human security. Basing on these analyses, it then provided a linkage and correlation to the idea of UNDPs Human Development Report 1994 which put equal importance on the threats of economic well-being as one of the underlying problems of human security and distinguished human development as widening of peoples choices and their ability to manage their own lives.

In sum, the articles that were presented were very much helpful. Aside from the fact that both are correlated, they also put equal weight on helping the readers fully understand human security and its relation to human development. Based on this, it can be deduced that the arguments of the author in the articles are consistent with the facts that he provided considering that he set United Nations and other international bodies and organizations to support his claim. Finally, the author indeed raised several important matters throughout the article since he sought to give answers to those underlying questions of human security and human development and how was it relevant in the past and in present times.

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