PT Unknown
AU Werthes, S
   Heaven, C
   Vollnhals, S
TI Assessing Human Insecurity Worldwide: The Way to A Human (In)Security Index
SE INEF-Report
PY 2011
IS 102
DI 10.17185/duepublico/26915
LA en
AB The idea of human security has been presented and discussed in international academic and
political fora for more than a decade. Yet, despite its popularity, the analytical usefulness as
well as the political appropriateness of the concept is frequently criticized. In arguing for and
presenting a Human (In)Security Index we address both aspects.
In the first part, we discuss the idea of human security and introduce the reader to the main
critique regarding the conceptual usefulness of the idea. Secondly, we reflect on the contested
development‐security‐nexus when presenting our conceptual framework. Additionally, we put
forward a threshold‐based conceptualization of human security based on the ideas originally
presented by Taylor Owen together with Mary Martin. To substantiate the threshold‐based
conceptualization we present a multidimensional Human (In)Security Index, allowing to assess
respective levels of human (in‐)security. By operationalizing the dimensions of human security
and presenting available data for 2008, one of the remaining conceptual challenges is addressed.
We demonstrate how a Human (In)Security Index can be used in the political realm and bring
to the fore the potential core threats to human security. This additionally specifies the idea of
human security and furthers a differentiation between human security and other related
concepts such as human development and human rights.
In sum, we argue that human security as a political idea remains highly relevant. As a political
leitmotif, human security is significantly and constructively used and applied in political
processes despite or because of its analytical ambiguity.
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