Freedom from Want, and Freedom from Fear: A Human Security Approach to a New Middle East?

Abstract

In the Middle East, the persistence of authoritarianism and war, economic stagnation and the 'youth bulge', the proliferation of nuclear weapons, border disputes, competition over scarce resources, refugee problems, terrorism, human rights violations, tribalism, unresolved nationalisms and religious sectarianism make the region one where heads of state tend to place the security of their regimes over the security of the people. From a human security perspective, as explored in this article, states that pursue 'state security without investing in human security' unfortunately 'achieve neither' (UNDP, 2009, p. vi). My argument regarding the need to rethink Middle East security, for the sake of both state and society, is based upon seven years of field work in 10 Middle Eastern countries including Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, Israel/Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco. Part one of this article looks at the convergence of global change in the security environment, conceptual change in security policy making, and subsequent developments of a 'human security' approach. Part two traces the emergence of a local 'human security' dialogue in the Middle East, and illustrates how Arab intellectuals and policy makers are using the human security framework to press for more humane governance in the Arab world. A conclusion provides an assessment of the likelihood of a human security approach taking root in the region and shifting state priorities from regime survival to citizen wellbeing.