First Youth Security Forum titled “Human Security in International Relations: Foreign Policy for People” will open in Kyiv on November 23. The Forum will bring together 50 young analysts and scholars from more than 10 countries worldwide. This event takes place at the initiative of the Foundation “Open Ukraine,” which aims to create a platform for young leaders from different countries to have a discussion on urgent issues of international relations and Ukraine’s foreign policy. The topic for discussion at this forum will be the issue of “human security” in the development of international relations. Experienced professionals from Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, United States, and representatives of international organizations in Ukraine (UN, NATO, EU, and others) will share their experience with the young specialists. “Human security” is a new approach to understanding the global level of vulnerability. According to proponents of this concept, as opposed to traditional notions of international security, the real object of international security should be an individual. Before the opening of this Forum The Day talked to three of its participants and asked them a few questions.
Can people feel safe in a country with weak democratic traditions?
Philipp FLURY, Director of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces:
“Yes, people can feel safe in a country with weak democratic traditions. But it will be a different kind of security – undemocratic security. This situation is typical of the post-Soviet countries. In these circumstances the security of the state is a priority and the state’s influence is too big.
Do not forget that here we understand the state not as a society, but as an apparatus.
Thus, only a limited number of people can feel safe. In other cases, there is no rule of law in the country and the interests of individuals are neglected.
“A state is legitimate only if, according to the idea of the social contract, it is able to provide human security to its citizens. Citizens delegate some of their rights to the state in exchange for their safety, but not the safety of the state apparatus.”
A lot of people in the underdeveloped countries do not understand well, why they have to think about food security. They do not admit, how this problem affects their life. Would you give them the answer, why it is necessary to think about food security and how everybody can contribute to ensure sustainable food security?
William MEYERS, Professor and Director, International Agriculture Programs and Howard Cowden Professor of Agricultural and Applied Economics University of Missouri:
“For those in high-income countries who are food secure, the food insecurity in other countries can still affect them. It can cause political unrest and even turmoil and in worst cases conflict in those countries. Moreover, food depravation and malnutrition, especially among children, slows learning ability and reduces the economic growth in developing countries. Improved economic growth in low-income countries contributes to their own well-being but also to world economic growth and political stability. These are all benefits to high-income countries, even if people don’t always recognize it. One more thing is that even in developed countries, not everyone has food security without government assistance. A good example is that in the United States during the recent economic recession the number of people receiving food assistance increased by 20 million persons between 2007 and 2012 and now is 15 percent of the total population. Without such safety net programs, most of these people would be undernourished or even hungry.”
Why food security is important for Ukraine?
“As in the US and many other countries with either high or low incomes, there are always people who are either hungry or malnourished or both. Ukraine is no exception. In today’s world we are increasingly aware that malnutrition includes both underweight and overweight people, so obesity is also an issue, especially in the US but increasingly in other countries. There is not a lack of food availability in Ukraine, because it is a very productive country and also markets are open to import what is not produced domestically. Also many people, of both high and low incomes, have home gardens which not only increase access to food, but also to fresh, healthy food. But as in any society, the access to food and a healthy diet is not equally available to all. One indicator of this is that life expectancy at birth in Ukraine, as in Russia, is relatively low, and among European countries, only Russia is lower than Ukraine according to UN statistics. This measure, of course, includes food, diet, health and life style issues, but these are all interrelated. It means that Ukraine can improve the well being of its population if attention is given to study the reasons for this situation and the possible remedies that can be used. Global food security issues also can impact Ukraine, because Ukraine can produce and export more to help to meet food needs of importing countries.”
Extreme poverty is really a great problem for some Asian countries and are there some clear solutions? Does solution fully depend on these countries themselves and their governments or also international assistance or impact is needed?
Risako ISHII, expert on Human Security, University of Tokyo (Japan):
“There may not be a simple clear solution for extreme poverty considering complex deep-rooted causes of the issue.
Yet, one thing for sure is that empowerment of the people should be the center of the solutions.
“Of course, it is primarily the responsibility of the countries of concern and their governments to address the issue, but the role the international society: international organizations, governments and the civil society is still crucial when the countries themselves do not have enough capacities to do so.
It is indeed a thrust of human security concept that the international society work together to keep security of individuals of the world.”
