Global governance and human security

This chapter reviews how the practical implementation of human security by states, as well as international and regional institutions, is a necessary condition for effective global governance. It traces the changing meaning of human security, including the ‘broad’ version of security linked to human development, the ʼnarrow’ so-called Canadian version linked to human rights and the European version centred on addressing conflict. It outlines the radical critiques of the concept and how they can be considered to amplify the concept, especially the understanding of what it means to be human. It draws attention to the growing interest among the military in human security, especially in Europe and NATO, and argues that although human security refers to a broad range of existential threats to individuals and the communities in which they live, and that a range of instruments are required to counter those threats, a shift in the role of the military from war-fighting to the protection of civilians is central to the operational application of human security. The chapter concludes by discussing the implications of such a shift for the legitimacy of global governance.