Human Security and Empowerment in Asia

For scholars and practitioners who intend to place human security at the center of a post-COVID-19 era, the case studies in the volume offer a truly thought-provoking investigation into protection and empowerment and their roles in addressing the needs of vulnerable communities experiencing the effects of compounded human insecurities. Prior to the pandemic, the communities examined here were already experiencing diverse insecurities due to poverty, food shortages, and forced migration due to conflicts or disasters. The research case studies eloquently steer away from stove-pipe approaches, and embrace a multi-disciplinary comprehensive approach in "solidarity," as argued in the 2022 UNDP Special Report, New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene. Research also reveals how ideas for empowerment can emerge from the process of protection. Three decades after the launch of the human security concept, the operationalization of human security is being severely scrutinized. This book offers a conceptual and practical guide map to its deployment.

Akiko Fukushima, Senior Fellow

Tokyo Foundation for Policy Research, Japan

The pandemic has caused havoc around the world—particularly in vulnerable communities—whether in the Global South or the Global North. This book provides an evidence-based account of how people and communities were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in various parts of Asia, and how they have overcome the structural barriers through empowerment in critical cases of human security. This is a must-read for policymakers, academics, and students who have understood that the concept of "human security" can provide a powerful tool to analyze and provide practical solutions for "freedom from fear, freedom from want, and freedom to live in dignity" for all.

Eun Mee Kim, President, Professor

Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea

The concept and practices of Human Security face serious challenges, not least of which is a resurgence of traditional geopolitical visions of security focusing upon military defense, reinforced by a rise in nationalism and great power rivalry. Yet, the current polycrisis demonstrates that Human Security, as a guide to policy, is needed more than ever. This excellent book explores the importance and feasibility of Human Security in East Asia, in response to COVID-19 and development challenges, amongst others. Building upon the internationally leading research undertaken by the JICA Ogata Research Institute in the field of Human Security, it is conceptually rich and empirically rigorous, while demonstrating how ideas can have a positive impact upon people’s lives.

Edward Newman, Professor of International Security

University of Leeds, UK

Human security is a beautiful concept that needs to be effectively operationalized, and this book aims to do just that by focusing on specific vulnerable populations in Japan and several Southeast Asian countries. The ten chapters cover a wide range of issues that scholars would find conceptually, theoretically, methodologically, and empirically stimulating and refreshing in light of COVID-19. I highly recommend this valuable book to everyone interested in delving into the latest research in the post-COVID world.

Sorpong Peou, Professor; Graduate Program Director

Toronto Metropolitan University, Canada

Over the past decade, JICA Ogata Sadako Research Institute for Peace and Development (Previously JICA Research Institute) has yielded numerous impressive products. This volume is a continuation of its path-breaking work in the field of human security. This book can be widely used in classrooms and research offices.

Ren Xiao, Professor

Fudan University, Shanghai, China