Human Security -- Aspects of a New Security Concept

The concept of human security has emerged in the post-Cold War world of the 1990s. It is a concept which, ever since its first appearance, has provoked a lot of criticism with regard to its analytical ambiguity & its political appropriateness. This article examines the historical & theoretical evolution of different security concepts (traditional, extended, common, comprehensive, societal & human) as well as the way in which they relate to one another. In particular, it shows how the different generations of security concepts broaden the relevant issues at stake & finally the reference object when changing the perspective. The conclusion that is reached in the article is that a narrow understanding of human security offers more & easier analytical value, while a broad conception serves better as a political leitmotif for concerted foreign policy-projects. 1 Table, 1 Figure. Adapted from the source document.