Global Human Security

 

Every human group seeks security as one of its highest objectives. The concept of national security became prominent in the mid-20th century, with a strong military focus but also including other aspects of security. In the second half of that century, the term international security was frequently used, to account for the growing interdependence of nations. Within the sphere of international security, arms control and disarmament were major foci of attention. Toward the end of the 20th century, the term human security became part of the discourse of diplomacy and humanitarian work, underscoring a heightened respect for the value of human life and community health. After the attacks of 11 September 2001 on the United States, the concept of homeland security rose to prominence.

 

We have worked in each of these security areas. In recognition of the high and growing levels of global interdependence and mutual vulnerability that characterize the present era, we use the term global human security to encompass all the types of security mentioned above. Our work in this program area is co-directed by Dr. Paula Gutlove and Dr. Gordon Thompson. Many of our activities related to global human security overlap our activities in other program areas.

 

IRSS’s work in this program area is often done in partnership with other organizations. We have worked with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Winston Foundation for World Peace, the Bellerive Foundation, Greenpeace International, the World Health Organization, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Parliamentarians Global Action, the Institute for Peace and International Security, Clark University, Citizens Awareness Network, Mothers for Peace, and others. Our activities in this program area have occurred within the following categories:

 

Arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation

Health and human security

Preventive action and integrated security

Risk and homeland security

Dual-role technologies

 

 

Energy and Environment

 

Systems for the supply and use of energy are essential to modern civilization.   However, these systems involve a variety of impacts on the environment and society.   Through IRSS's Energy and environment programs, we seek to improve understanding of such impacts, and to promote policies, technologies and practices that minimize adverse impacts.   We examine the impacts of nuclear, fossil and renewable energy systems, considering direct and indirect impacts in the short term and long term.   The program is directed by Dr. Gordon Thompson.   Frequently, IRSS's work in this program area is done in partnership with other organizations.

 

Our work in this program area often overlaps work done in other IRSS program areas.   For example, the potential diversion of nuclear-energy technologies and materials toward production of nuclear weapons is an important issue of international security.   Also, the vulnerability of nuclear-energy facilities to attack is an important issue in the contexts of asymmetric warfare and terrorism.   Both issues are relevant to IRSS's Global human security program area.   As another example, the modern world's dependence on fossil fuels has implications for our Sustainable development program area.

 

IRSS's Energy and environment program activities occur within the following categories:

 

Safety and security of nuclear-energy facilities

Nuclear Legacies

Nuclear energy and nuclear-weapons proliferation

Energy policy

 

 

 

Sustainable Development

 

The classic definition of sustainable development was articulated in the 1987 report of the World Commission on Environment and Development.   The report, titled Our Common Future, stated: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”   Subsequently, people around the world have struggled to make this definition operational.   Many of them agree that sustainability has three major dimensions:   environmental; economic; and social.   A sustainable civilization must be sustainable across all three dimensions.

 

Creation of a sustainable civilization is a vast effort that has scarcely begun.   It involves the exciting challenge of adapting new and old technologies and behaviors in a long-term global context.   While daunting, this challenge can be met with intellectual and moral tools that have deep roots in cultures around the world.   IRSS contributes to the transition to sustainability by working on selected issues, with a variety of partners.   Our programs on global human security help to provide an enabling context for sustainability.   IRSS activities in our Sustainable Development program area are directed by Dr. Gordon Thompson.   These activities have occurred within the following categories:

 

Education for sustainability

Sustainable communities

Technologies and practices for reducing environmental impacts

 

 

 

 

Knowledge Exchange

 

In the contemporary world, sustainable use of natural resources and the enhancement of human security require an unprecedented level of cooperation by large numbers of people. Creating and maintaining this cooperation will involve numerous institutional and cultural changes. Also essential will be the ability to rapidly share information about the practical performance of policies, practices and technologies. Rapid, broad-based exchange of knowledge on these matters can accelerate social learning and reduce the potential for repetition of costly mistakes.

 

Electronic means of communication and information management, especially the Web, provide an infrastructure that can support the needed level of knowledge exchange. Over the coming years, this infrastructure will be accessible to a growing fraction of the global population. Some additional developments are needed, however, before the quest for sustainability and human security can fully benefit from the new infrastructure. One such development is the evolution of common practices and standards for collecting, compiling and distributing information. IRSS’s Knowledge Exchange program seeks to contribute to this evolution. The program is directed by Dr. Gordon Thompson.

 

IRSS’s work in this program area is often done in partnership with other organizations. We have worked with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Winston Foundation for World Peace, Clark University, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the World Bank, and the US Department of Energy. Our activities in this program area have occurred within the following categories:

 

Education for sustainability

Sustainable communities

Technologies and practices for reducing environmental impacts

Prevention and management of conflict

Risk analysis and homeland security