Redefinition of Peace in Peaceful Times: Reconsidering Humanitarian Assistance and the Concept of Human Security

Abstract

The objective of this study is to redefine peace in peaceful times by reconsidering humanitarian assistance and the concept of human security. This approach has been chosen in part because of the author’s background. I am a researcher, as well as a practitioner, having been involved in humanitarian assistance in conflict zones over years as an NGO aid worker.

Another reason for this approach is that humanitarian assistance is a crucial notion, as well as an important practice in redefining peace in the sense that assistance is offered in the context where peace has been longed for; on the other hand, humanitarian assistance often contradicts the creation of peace, having tense relationships with structural violence.

The other analytical framework applied here is the notion of human security. It is a concept that has been exposed to many critical discourses. In this study, however, the concept of human security is utilized based upon its strength―that is, human security is employed as an operational guideline, not as an analytical framework. As an operational guideline, human security overcomes the shortcomings of current aid, which is highly specialized but also highly subdivided, based not upon people’ s needs but upon agencies’ organizational missions and specialties, such as food, medicine, landmines, health, education, or children. As an operational guideline, human security encourages a more comprehensive approach to secure the human needs of recipients by adopting a multi-sector, multi-agency approach. Another strong point is that if the “human” in human security refers to all the people in the world, it helps to highlight the rights of the invisible marginalized population by focusing on their human security. In addition, when one person’s human security is in opposition to another person’s, it fosters the viewpoint of transcending the confrontation, rather than the zero-sum viewpoint, after making the difference visible. In this way, the human security concept clearly relates to peace and the study of peace.

After discussing peace through humanitarian assistance, this study urges that we utilize this human security concept to redefine peace, as well as to achieve peace in peaceful times.