Dale Roy

Does Human Security (HS) Bring Anything New to Refugee Protection? A salient question in the search for meaning for physical security that has reoriented or at least given preponderance to HS since the Cold War was “Whose security?”. This is a question that has been asked repeatedly in security discourse. However, the previous realist assertion was no longer viable in the century to come. The reorientation of security was in some sense necessary at that time, at least to rub along with the democratic consensus to cut down funding for physical security. A shift in orientation from state to individual or community, at least in normative advocacy, seemed to make up for the vacuum (Paris, 2001). Although in reality all this normative advocacy made little sense in policy application, David Chandler opinioned that human security as a concept did not ‘bark’ (Chandler, 2008). However, it is my assertion that independent research into HS continued ...

Stakeholder Perspectives on Human Security of Refugees in Bangladesh Humanitarian Staff Findings from humanitarian staff cover four main themes: violence, healthcare, livelihood, and social support. Staff report that violence is structural and embedded in the daily lives of camp residents. While some refugees express affection for the host community, staff describe relations as generally antagonistic due to the strain of the influx on local resources. Security & Health: There is a documented need for increased security, particularly for female staff members who feel vulnerable. However, some respondents argue that more security forces may not help, citing potential complicity in illegal activities. Healthcare is currently inadequate and underfunded, with staff facing short-term 3-month contracts and decreasing wages. Livelihood: UN-led programs in sewing and tailoring have seen success, particularly in Camp 10. How...

THE ASIAN LABORATORY OF HUMAN SECURITY AND REFUGEES The 21st century has the potential to be recognized as the era dominated by Asian influence and achievements, especially in terms of Human Security (HS) (Kim, 2010). HS has an Asian origin, as evidenced by the prominent role of Japan in advancing a HS agenda of ‘freedom from want’ that transcends the state-centric approach and prioritizes the well-being of individuals (Acharya, 2001). In addition, influential scholars such as Mahbubul Haq and Amartya Sen, have Asian roots, and along with many other Asian academics who have contributed to shaping a distinctive Asian perspective on HS. The Asian view of HS differs from the allegedly narrow Westphalian view that focuses on the physical securitization of states. This view puts a premium on the principles of sovereignty and noninterference. However, as Kim stresses, these principles are not new or uniquely Asian (Ki...

WHO ARE THE ROHINGYA? Figure : Map of Rakhine (former Arakan) state of Myanmar (Source : Map of Rakhine State-Wikipedia) The question is simple, but answering it is complex. The Rohingya are an ethnic, religious, and linguistic minority group from the northern Rakhine state (Harvard Divinity School, 2021). They are distinct from the major Burman group and share cultural traits that are more similar to those of South Asia (Matisoff, 2023). The Rohingya are predominantly Muslims who claim to be the descendants of Indo-Aryans but assert their indigeneity to western Myanmar, having lived there since precolonial times (Blakemore, 2019). However, their origin and identity are highly debated among scholars. C. R. Abrar citing Nicolaus (1995) argues that the influx of Muslim traders from Afghanis...

Legal hurdles in protection of refugees: National legislations and International frameworks Two key components of Human Security (Source: Developed by author, adapted from 1994 Human Development Reports) The UNHCR has urged Bangladesh to adopt a national refugee and asylum system since the early 2000s. In 2013, Bangladesh responded by adopting the “National Strategy on Myanmar Refugees and Undocumented Myanmar Nationals” (NSMRUMN) (Cortinovis & Rorro, 2021). It was a unique ‘strategy’ that aimed at addressing the needs of refugees in the camps. The Government of Bangladesh (GoB) was further urged to create a national refugee law, as it made the situation of refugees in its territory unstable, which violated one of the main aspects of HS- protection from ‘sudden and hurtful disruption in daily patterns of life’ (Ewan, 2007). The beneficial impacts of the str...

Social constructionism is a multidisciplinary theory that examines how individuals collectively perceive and construct knowledge about a specific phenomenon, such as the environment. Here I aim to explore the shared assumptions underlying the social construction of the environment and reality. Drawing on various lenses from disciplines like Geography, Sociology, Communications theory, and Philosophy, I critically examine the social construction within each discipline and inquire into their ethical implications. The theory of social construction asserts that every notion is collectively formed rather than individually constructed. I explore how environmental disasters intersect with the social and political domains, influencing international relations through policies, impacts, and actions. By analyzing print and digital media coverage of the environment, I attempt to contribute toward the development of a social construction of the environment. ...

HUMAN SECURITY: THE ‘APOCRYPHAL ELEPHANT’ H uman security is a long line of neologisms in security studies (Paris, 2001). The concept of Human Security is a relatively new branch of security studies, and it has been shaped by both the Copenhagen School and the Aberystwyth School (Williams & McDonald, 2018). As opposed to the traditional state-centric approach to security, these two schools shifted the referent object to individuals, or humans, thus placing people at the center of security issues. The idea of human security is expansive and difficult to pin down precisely, which has led some critics to doubt its usefulness for policymakers (Ewan, 2007). Furthermore, since the end of the Cold War in the 1990s, ‘development and military security’ have ‘become intertwined’, making the situation even more complex (King & Murray, 2001). By understanding the nuances of human security, we can create a clearer framework for tackling security ri...