Human Security Threats Research Articles

Ecosystem and human water security trade-offs in a context of climate change in South East Queensland Region, Australia

ABSTRACT Globally, there is an increasing trade-off between efforts to attain human water security and minimise ecosystem threats. Poorly planned efforts to meet current human water demands may jeopardise the ecological integrity of the river basins and may put future water security at risk. This article assesses the trade-offs between the future human and ecosystem water security threats in the South East Queensland Region, Australia. The article evaluates future water security threats based on a set of water and ecosystem services-related indicators and an ensemble of all climate change scenarios and models on water flow. It predicts the hotspots with higher human water security and ecosystem threats in 2040. The article finds that 52.1 per cent of the region may be affected in 2040 with either higher human water security risk or ecosystem services risk and, in some cases, with both. The challenge of managing the trade-offs is complex in regions with higher economic activities, which cover 16.3 per cent of the region. The research recommends that mitigation measures that address human water provision and nature conservation will need to be balanced and put at the same level of importance in these regions that are more affected.

A Comprehensive Review on Integrating Image Classification and Deep Learning for Theft Prevention through Emotion Detection

Abstract: This review delves into the synergistic integration of image classification and deep learning techniques to bolster theft prevention through the lens of emotion detection. The core of this exploration lies in grasping the fundamentals of image classification, specifically the application of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for intricate pattern recognition. The emphasis then shifts to the inclusion of emotion detection, a pioneering element that equips systems to discern emotional cues embedded in images. This encompasses scrutinizing facial expressions and contextual intricacies, affording a more intricate understanding of human behavior and potential security threats. The review showcases real-world case studies to exemplify the tangible impact of this integration, highlighting its effectiveness in curtailing false alarms and fortifying overall security infrastructures. However, amidst the promising outcomes, the review acknowledges challenges such as privacy concerns and the need for extensive datasets. In conclusion, the review envisions future directions, charting a course for refining and advancing the fusion of image classification and emotion detection. This amalgamation of cutting-edge technologies underscores a progressive paradigm in theft prevention, offering a comprehensive overview of its present state and the potential for further innovation.

COVID-19 Impacts on Human Security in Bangladesh

COVID-19 has been a challenge for the human being in this century. It has created serious human security threats in this world. Due to lack of medical infrastructure thousands of people lose their lives in Bangladesh. Though government of Bangladesh has been taking lots of initiative to minimize this COVID-19 impacts in Bangladesh but due to density of population, lack of medical infrastructure, lack of sufficient doctor, lock down and suspended all economic activities, people become unemployed, decrease income, increase poverty and seriously impacted human security in Bangladesh. Main objectives of the study to identify impact of COVID-19 on human security in Bangladesh and formulate a strategy for minimize COVID-19 impact on human security in Bangladesh. This study helps to understand the COVID-19 impacts on human security in Bangladesh of the political science students, researchers and policy makers. Researcher uses primary and secondary sources of this article.

Digitalising Public Administration for Sustainable Development

Since their independence from colonial rules in the late 1950s and early 1960s, most countries in African continent have been sleepwalking in developmental realm due to a myriad of human security threats including internal conflicts, military dictatorships, public sector corruption and generational poverty among others. Consequently, the continent, in sharp contrast to others, failed to achieve some of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by the comity of nations at the turn of the 21st century. As all the African states pledged unwavering commitment to achieving other sets of global goals—the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set in 2015, —concerns over their actual capacity to achieve them by the target year (2030) are being raised. This is because they not only epitomise most of the challenges being confronted but also lag far behind in the global race for digitalisation, precipitated by 21st century digital revolution and widely regarded as an essential driver in governments efforts towards achieving national objectives. Using desk review of secondary data, this paper examines the instrumentality of digital technologies to the achievement of sustainable development in Africa, with specific reference to Nigeria. The SDGs serve as the basis for the analysis while system theory, emancipatory realism and Digital Era Governance model among other scholarly and expert perspectives provide reasoned lines of explanation. The paper concludes that digital technology is an indispensable mechanism to the achievement of sustainable development. It recommends that while curbing corruption and insecurity are considered Nigeria’s developmental priority, digital technologies should be used to accelerate their achievement and other lofty ideals.

‘Broadening’ and ‘deepening’ collective security in times of health crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond

Since the end of the Cold War, the UN’s collective security model has been questioned as to whether it has been well equipped to respond to the changing landscape of global security. By using the UN Security Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, this paper traces the discursive contestations of the traditional understanding of the UN Charter-based collective security model. It examines what meanings the member states collectively attach to public health crises, how they frame the COVID-19 pandemic, and, finally how they consider the role of the Security Council in responding to non-military emergencies. An analysis of the debates by the Council members suggest that there is a slow normative change in the recognition of health security as an indivisible aspect of peace. We argue that the pandemic has created a normative environment for the Council’s members to rethink ‘broadening’ and ‘deepening’ collective security beyond military conflicts to emphasize the Council’s role in addressing health issues, structural inequalities, and other human security threats.

The Human (in)Security of Syrian Refugees in Malaysia

The ongoing Syrian conflict has resulted in millions of refugees fleeing the country since 2011. In 2015, the Malaysian government pledged to host 3000 Syrian refugees to continue their lives safely in Malaysia before returning to Syria when the war ends. However, Malaysia has not ratified the 1951 Refugee Convention or its 1967 Protocol, which serves as an international treaty that recognises refugees’ status and protects their rights. Due to the non-existence of a legal framework to protect refugees and externally displaced persons, this article argues that human security threats are very likely to be faced by Syrian refugees in Malaysia, despite the implementation of the Syrian Migrant Temporary Settlement Program (PPSMS) by the Malaysian government. Through qualitative research and in-depth interviews with selected government officials, Syrian refugees and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the analysis in this article revealed that there are major security concerns that have impacted existing Syrian refugees in Malaysia, which can be viewed from different interdependent human security dimensions, such as political, economic, health and social security.

"Digital global health diplomacy" for climate change and human security in the Anthropocene.

The COVID-19 pandemic has now affected everyone, threatening every aspect of our well-being with over 617597680 confirmed cases, including 6532705 deaths globally. The context of the Anthropocene is the backdrop for the novel, interlinked, systemic, and global threats. Anthropocene is a term proposed to designate the era in which human beings have become predominant drivers of planetary change, drastically altering the planet's biosphere. The concept of global health diplomacy (GHD), which connects the domains of health and international relations, has a critical role in advancing human security. Thus, there is a need for new forms of diplomacy, which is critically important in this complex intermestic and interdependent Anthropocene era, where globalization has inevitably linked nations and population health. This paper introduces, analyzes, and attempts to define "Digital Global Health Diplomacy" (DGHD), which has gained great momentum during this COVID-19 pandemic with concurrent health and human security threats. The application of digital formats to the existing traditional structures for dialogue has become a more popular tool recently. Furthermore, digital means are being used during the COVID-19 pandemic to share the health diplomacy discourse at subnational, supranational, international, regional, and global platforms. DGHD reminds us again of the criticality of this multidisciplinary concept involving the contributions of diplomats, global health specialists, digital technology experts, economists, trade specialists, international law, political scientists, etc., in the global policymaking process. If used effectively by trained global health diplomats through innovative digital platforms, DGHD has a great scope of delivering results faster and has more reach than the traditional approach.

Political Economy of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Human Security Threat: An Evidence from Niger Delta Region, Nigeria

The paper examined the political economy of greenhouse gas emissions and human security threats in the Niger Delta Region, Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the largest producers of crude oil in Africa and flares a greater percent of her gas. The Gas Flare Track indicates that from March 2012 to February 2019, the total carbon dioxide emitted in the five Niger Delta states was estimated at an average of 239.1 million tonnes. Gas flaring by the transnational oil firms is a major contributor to global warming leading to the human security threat in the region. At present, the Niger Delta ecosystem is one of the worst hit by the adverse effects of global warming. The effect of climate change in the Niger Delta region has pushed a greater percentage of its inhabitants into abject poverty. The government is rhetorical and adamant about attending to the socio-economic challenges occasioned by climate change. The continuous neglect and deprivation of access to petrodollar benefits led to the anti-thesis between the Niger Delta inhabitants and the oil companies backed by the federal government in the Region. The aftermath of this struggle is the launching of the artisanal refining of crude oil, which became another source of greenhouse gas emission in the Niger Delta Region. The artisanal refining enterprise, however, received a morale boost from the oil-bearing communities, but unbeknown to them of its environmental impact. The study adopted the externality theory and structural conflict theory as its theoretical construct. The study relied on the qualitative method of data gathering techniques, which include the internet, journals, and books. The study unraveled that gas flaring has become another source of revenue for the Nigerian government, hence cannot end it. The paper recommends amongst others the amendment of the Reinjection Act of 1979 clause that allows multinational oil companies to flare gas.

SOFT POWER MODEL TO STRENGTHEN HUMAN SECURITY AT THE TEMAJUK BORDER

The current state of Indonesia’s border areas is very worrying. This can be seen from the ongoing issues of illegal trade, smuggling, the dominance of the Ringgit currency, shifting of boundary markers, and the presence of illegal migrant workers. These things become indicators of the nationalism crisis in the country’s border areas, which is a study of human security. This study aims to implement a soft power model to strengthen human security at the Temajuk border. This study uses a mix-method by collecting qualitative and quantitative data. Qualitative is done by interview, observation, and literature study. While quantitative is done by distributing questionnaires that are carried out in the period from May 2021 to November 2021. The research subjects were 14 people of Temajuk Village. The study results found that the soft power model to strengthen human security at the Temajuk border, which has been analyzed, shows that there are stages to be passed. First, the investigation stage is carried out by investigating the potential for soft power at the Temajuk border. Second is the soft power model’s design and construction stage to strengthen human security at the Temajuk border. Third, the step of testing, evaluating, and revising the soft power model to enhance human security at the Temajuk Border consists of a pre-test and post-test. Implementing the soft power model in strengthening human security in the Temajuk border area is essential to effectively protect people who are vulnerable to human security threats.

Australia's Role in Supporting Kiribati's Migration with Dignity Policy Dealing with Sea Level Rise in the South Pacific

This study aims to describe Kiribati's adaptation efforts through the "Migration with Dignity" policy that the government made to deal with the sea level rise problem and to describe Australia's role in supporting Kiribati in carrying out this policy. The research method used in this research is a descriptive analytical research type that describes the cause and effect of a certain phenomenon, in this case, climate change, by describing data, facts, and arguments relevant to the discussion. The results of this study indicate that through migration policy as an adaptation strategy, the Kiribati government builds its capacity to respond to human security threats arising from sea level rise and fulfills the responsibility to ensure the survival of the population through education and skills development programs. In this regard, Australia plays a role as the dominant regional actor by providing assistance through AusAID. Australia's foreign aid as a donor country is used to meet the needs of Kiribati as a recipient country to support the "Migration with Dignity" policy.

Climate Migration: Adding Fuel to the Ethnocentric Fire

ABSTRACT While conflict, crime, and terrorism are persistent geopolitical and human security threats, climate change can be a threat multiplier, affecting geopolitical stability on local, regional, and global scales. This paper provides a qualitative assessment of the literature and geopolitical trends related to climate change, migration, and ethnocentrism in order to evaluate the current situation and future potentials for climate-driven conflict, crime, terrorism, and ethnocentric extremism. The paper concludes that as climate change becomes a major driver of environmental degradation, natural disasters, mass migrations, and urbanization, this will escalate the impetus for violence against migrants, the exploitation of migrants, and anti-migrant politics. Potential implications in terms of terrorism and extremism are discussed.

"Public health emergency declarations" in the Ethiopian federal system: understanding the scope of state and federal emergency declarations and authorities

Infectious agents posing a human security threat have been recorded throughout history. Today, COVID-19 poses a serious human security threat in the world, forcing governments to take extraordinary measures. Extraordinary measures, such as declarations of a state of emergency, basically determine the legal and operational resources available to respond to an emergency. Hence, it has implications for governments, the private sector and the general public. The legal authority of the state of emergency declarations during public health crises in federal countries basically relies on the emergency powers vested in the levels of government. Understanding the scope of state and federal emergency declarations and authorities and how they interact is, therefore, an important part of preparing for, and responding to, "public health emergencies". This article, through a detailed examination of relevant laws and other countries' experiences, attempts to shed light on the "public health emergency declaration" in Ethiopia with a particular focus on understanding the scope of state and federal emergency declarations and authorities.

Republic of Korea’s Role in Contributing to Human Security in Korea and Asia

Purpose: This research aims to contribute to the sustainable development, sound security and economic devel-opment of Asia by analyzing the actual situation of human security challenges in Republic of Korea (ROK) and Asia and establishing a cooperative mechanism between countries in the region. Epidemics, disasters, terrorism, organized crime and drug problems, including Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), are international issues that cannot be solved by the efforts of a specific country alone, and are a threat to domestic human security. Method: In today s world, the interaction between human behavior and nature, especially the environment and climate, continues. The most notable example of artificial disasters that has changed the way humans see the world is Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). This study analyzes ongoing human security threats and the international community s efforts to respond to them. Finally, this research suggests an alternative to the international community. Results: The current pandemic crisis is unfortunate and unprecedented. The emergence of the deadly virus has not only baffled every country, but has left a grim mark on the world. The post-COVID-19 pandemic, along with the onslaught of the virus, presents a number of challenges: governance breakdowns, massive unemployment, economic crises, immigration predicaments, global supply chain disruptions and, most importantly, security restructuring. Conclusion: This study proposes a way to establish a regional cooperation mechanism between Republic of Korea and Asia to mitigate human security threats. In particular, it analyzes the current situation of human securi-ty issues in the region and introduces ROK s role in promoting and protecting human security in Asia. In addition, this research analyzes non-traditional security factors such as infectious diseases, drugs, organized crime, terrorism, and cyber-terrorism to suggest ways to establish a regional cooperative mechanism between Republic of Korea and Asia to mitigate human security threats.

SADC and ECOWAS’S peace and security architecture preparedness and the COVID-19 pandemic

The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic remains a global security threat, as the result of the emerging and exacerbated security challenges that have impacted on the national security policies of various regional economic communities (RECs). This study analyses SADC and ECOWAS’ responses to the Covid-19 pandemic under their respective existing peace and security structures and explores if both RECs, SADC and ECOWAS have been efficient. This article discusses the Southern African and West African security setting, how its security architecture emerged and whether it has been successful in overcoming the security ramification in the region under the Covid-19 pandemic. Coincidentally, both SADC and ECOWAS have been confronted with existing and emerging human security threats, such as increased poverty, inequality, and the spread of diseases, such as Covid-19. The Covid-19 pandemic, a non-traditional security threat, has exposed how RECs, such as SADC and ECOWAS, respond to non-traditional and emerging security threats, suggesting for the transcendence of their security architecture that caters equally for non-military and emerging human security threats, alike military threats. This article explores the regional security experiences, challenges, and responses of both the SADC and ECOWAS under the Covid-19 pandemic.

CITIZENS WITHOUT SECURITY IN NIGERIA’S DEMOCRATIC DISPENSATION

Protection of lives and property is the first and most important responsibility of any government to its citizens. This includes security from both internal and external aggressions. However, this vital aspect of governance has eluded many countries, including Nigeria. There is a global and unprecedented high rate of human insecurity that spans varied demographics. In Nigeria, human security threats have metamorphosed from violations of human rights to terrorist attacks. This paper provides possible connections between human security threats, decadence in governance, and policy formulations. Thus, the Nigerian government must rise to the challenges of protecting the lives and property of Nigerian citizens as security threats metamorphose from human rights violations to terrorism.

Operationalizing Water Security Concept in Water Investment Planning: Case Study of São Francisco River Basin

Despite advances in water resources management and planning, the São Francisco River Basin in Brazil has suffered from systematic drought problems in recent years, leading to severe human and environmental water security threats. This paper aims to track the water security for different periods and its relations with the changes in physical and natural asset conditions. The paper explores how investment planning to mitigate the water security threats and explore opportunities to increase the value of investments. The paper finds that grey infrastructure has regulated threats from increasing in the downstream of the river basin, however, continuous increase in water security threats in the upstream of the basin threatens water security downstream. This is evident from the spatial connectivity and unidirection externalities. As the capacity to further increase in grey investment is reaching its limit in the downstream, the increases in green infrastructure investment upstream, especially in the Grande River basin, could be one the way to reduce the externalities and minimise the water security risks.

The South African Development Community (SADC) and Covid-19: revisiting security community in SADC

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remains a global security challenge for humanity. The COVID-19 pandemic, a non traditional security threat has exposed how regions respond to non traditional and emerging security threats. Similarly, the South African Development Community (SADC) region remains confronted with security ramifications due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The peace and security of the region has been disturbed due to an upsurge of conflicts in countries, such as South Africa (South Africa’s unrests, protests and the Phoenix Massacre), Lesotho (Eswatini protests) and Mozambique’s (Carbo Delgado insurgency), all amidst the coronavirus global pandemic. Further to this, SADCs human security challenges that have transpired and, in some cases, have been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, include economic decline, job losses, food insecurity and the loss of life to mention a few. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, SADC Member Stateshave had to exercise greater regional pandemic management with diseases, such as Malaria, Human Acquired Immune (HIV/AIDs) and Tuberculosis (TB). SADCs efforts in combatting these human security threats have been progressive and notable. The study will analyse and build on the challenges, identified in Landsberg’s (2012) study The Southern African Development Community decision-making architecture, where he suggests that at the heart of SADCs progress is the need for greater implementation of their set goals and aspirations. The study will analyse recent efforts, undertaken by the SADC region, in order to determine the successes and challenges, faced by the sub-regional bloc. It is analysing peace and security of SADC under the Covid-19 pandemic through an upsurge of conflicts in the region and the early securitisation and cooperation of the Covid-19 pandemic. The article suggests, SADC strengthened regional cooperation efforts, such as early warning systems and regional execution methods, have fostered advanced regional security outcomesin the region.

Through Their Eyes: Women and Human Security in Kashmir

‘Women’s responsibilities call upon them to function in many spheres of human experience … (and so) their perspective on human security is comprehensive, including factors overlooked by the state security paradigm’ (Reardon, 2010a, The gender imperative: Human security vs state security, Routledge, p. 16). Recognising this, the following research article records threats to human security in Kashmir as seen from the point of view of a representative cross-section of Kashmiri women. It argues that in the context of the Kashmir valley, no discussion of security is complete without broadening the perspective from state security to human security. Again, no analysis of human security in Kashmir is complete without taking into account Kashmiri women’s experience of human security threats. The lived experiences of women in Kashmir and their perspectives should be at the heart of any human security analysis. This article aims at recording these threats faced by Kashmiri women in their daily lives, using a case study model. It records the lived experiences of 20 women from different ethnicities, religions, regions and locations within the valley. In doing so, it acknowledges not only the constraints of the case study model but also the centrality of women’s rights to identify and confront the threats to their conceptions and experiences of security. It limits itself to the Kashmir valley where the worst of the violence has occurred since 1989. Twenty women from seven districts—Srinagar, Pulwama, Budgam, Kulgam, Anantnag, Baramulla and Kupwara—have been interviewed over a 6-month period. In order to understand diverse conceptions and experiences of threats to human security, care was taken to include women from diverse ethnic and religious communities. The study covers Sikh, Sunni and Shia Muslim, Gujjar, Pahari and Kashmiri Pandit women.

‘Weak’ and ‘Strong’ States in Pandemic Times

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted some of the limitations of traditional assessments of the power of states as ‘strong’ or ‘weak’ in hard power terms. Diana Galeeva argues that when faced with a global human security threat, a state’s capacity can be partially measured by its ability to provide human security to its citizens, and to leverage its economic strength to provide foreign aid.◼

The Response of the Philippine Government in Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic

<em>All countries in Southeast Asia have faced the threat of widespread outbreaks of Coronavirus (COVID-19). One of the countries in Southeast Asia that experienced the most significant impact from COVID-19 is the Philippines. This paper discusses the COVID-19 threat as a form of non-traditional human security threat and the Philippines Government's need to carry out securitization and response measures to prevent the spread of the threat. In addition, this paper also explains the impact of COVID-19 in the Philippines and the new normal conditions after the lockdown was put in place by the government. This descriptive analysis shows that the COVID-19 outbreak, as a non-traditional security threat, impacted various Philippines' sectors. This result also indicates the Philippine government's response in dealing with the impact arising from the COVID-19 outbreak and the implementation of new normal to drive the economy.</em> <em>Therefore, we divide the discussion into four parts: First, an overview describes the Philippines' COVID-19 cases. Second, explain the impact of a pandemic in various fields. Third, define the response of the Philippine Government in dealing with COVID-19. Fourth, describing the challenges in dealing with COVID-19 in the Philippines and the new normal situation in force in the Philippines.</em>