Shaping the Concept of Human Security: A Constructivist Interpretation
Author: Wei-en Tan, Yu-Tai Tsai
Abstract / Chinese PDF Download
The fundamental attitude toward security study should be one of constantquestioning, as well as consideration of all possible perspectives. Only throughsuch studies can we fully comprehend and resolve security related issues. Asfor how we go about this, in the author’s opinion, all normal human activities arecarried out in pursuit of the same goal—to seek the benefits of security. Whena new security concept takes form, it actually reflects the insufficiency of currentsecurity concepts and related theories. Thus, the purpose of shaping a newconcept of security is to help humankind more effectively, economically andequably pursue security interests in a way that suits the present time most.
International relationships exist as an objective fact, but are not entirelypresented in tangible form. That is because both “tangible” and “objective” waysof interpreting such relationships may contain “intangible” and “subjective”demands from certain ideologies. Mainstream international relation theories thatontologically adapt materialism and objectivism are often used by a handful ofagents. That handful of agents can easily use those tools to solidify their powerand interests. Such theories ignore the fact that security cultures can be modified.Moreover, they often underestimate issues of justice and fairness when trying tomaintain the status quo. This research aims to interpret and explain humansecurity, a new concept that differs from traditional security, in the hope ofbringing about equable and reasonable interaction amidst long established thinking on traditional security.