Editors’ Message
The concept of human security, at the fundamental level, focuses on the security of the individual or groups of people. It is generally accepted that it is the responsibility of the State to protect its citizens and the people who live within it. To turn this question on its head – who, or what – will protect individuals from the State’s actions or from the State’s failure to ensure the safety of its citizens? Thus we rely on global actors such as civil society, international institutions, and other States to ‘monitor’ the State’s responsibility towards its people. In this issue we are glad to have Professor Robin Ludwig of the Center for Global Affairs define, in her paper, a possible framework for new partnerships between these actors to tackle issues of human security.
We begin the issue by exploring four different places in the world that have been plagued by conflict and civil war, threatening the livelihood and security of the people who live there. Matt Marlowe offers a poignant review of the book ‘Seeds of Terror” by Gretchen Peters which demonstrates a thorough critique of the book about the interrelated threats of “drugs, thugs and crime” in the Afghan war. The next two essays by Matthew Koppe and Kelly Nelson, both students of the Center, vividly explains the dangerous situation in Kosovo and the Horn of Africa, respectively. The essays are followed by an exclusive interview by PGI editor Linda Bouzembrak with Isabelle Mouniaman-Nara, the Desk Manager of Médecins Sans Frontières (Paris) reveals first-hand observations of MSF’s intervention in Congo-Brazzaville and the issues that they faced on the ground.
In this issue we are fortunate to have more than one interview with notable experts in their field — our second interview features Sarah Holewinski who is the Executive Director of Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (CIVIC), an organization based in Washington, D.C. and in Kabul that promotes smarter, more compassionate policies for war victims. Two of our editors, Karen and Elham speak in depth with Sarah about the organization and the roadblocks in getting warring parties to compensate for the insecurity and losses that are faced by war victims.
Center for Global Affairs student Anila Churi in her paper “Food Processing and Gari Production: A Case Study of Food Security in Western Ghana” presents an interesting case study of how food insecurity is tackled by the community in partnership with international organizations.
The threats of human security are multi-dimensional and often global in nature; with the more obvious one being human trafficking; especially of women and children. The heightened awareness of this complex issue in recent years has not, unfortunately, translated into genuine dialogue between States not to mention concrete policy. In this issue’s third interview conducted by PGI editor Ivana Kvesic, Aaron Cohen, the author of ‘Slave Hunter’, advocates that there should be a shift in the traditional view towards women’s role in the society, and that the problem should be tackled at the root by curbing the demand that drives illicit trafficking. The next piece demonstrates CGA Professor Mark Galeotti’s insight within the post-Soviet Eurasia region. In his essay he draws the connection between the criminality of illegal immigration and trafficking in that region, and describes how the issue presents threats to the entire fabric of border, political and economic security. Finally, Laurie Cohen, a student at the Center for Global Affairs, analyses the issue of trafficking in women and children in Cambodia and offers her unique policy recommendations.
We strive to include different perspectives on the issue theme and this one is no exception. We are pleased to publish an original piece by Professor Michio Umegaki of Keio University, Japan, where he gives an account of his field research in Vietnam and also offers an intellectually stimulating analysis of ‘human security’ as approached from the lens of political scientist.
Finally PGI editor Ivana Kvesic critically reviews “Half the Sky”, the highly popular book authored by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn which, I am sure, needs no introduction.
Perhaps the best definition of human security can be found in the 1994 Human Development Report (and cited by Professor Umegaki) that human security “is more readily identifiable by its absence.” As would-be global citizens at the Center for Global Affairs, let’s hope that we will continue to be critically aware of the absence of human security globally.
The editorial board of Perspectives on Global Issues would like to extend our gratitude to the contributing authors for their insights on the complex subject of Human Security which, without a doubt, enriches the substance and breadth of this issue. Readers’ thoughts and suggestions are always welcome.
Thank you,
The PGI Editorial Team
