The European Union's human security doctrine a critical analysis
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Authors
Berg, Lisa Catherine.
Subjects
Advisors
Yost, David S.
Date of Issue
2009-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The term "human security" first officially appeared on the scene of international relations in 1994, with a report by the UN Human Development Program. The concept has fast been gaining supporters and sparking associated intellectual debate. It challenges the traditional concept of security by contending that the central focus of security efforts should be the individual human being, not the nation state, as has been-and remains-the typical focus of analysis. This thesis investigates the hypothesis that the doctrine of "human security," which has been featured in official policy statements of the European Union (EU), is not yet well formulated. Partly because it is inconsistently defined, it has been difficult to implement. Four criticisms stand out: namely, that the "human security" concept is vague, incoherent, arbitrary and difficult to operationalize. The EU has nonetheless attempted to make "human security" an element of its European Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), with mixed results-reservations as to its limitations and acknowledgements of its achievements.
Type
Thesis
Description
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Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
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NPS Report Number
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Format
viii, 49 p. : ill. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.