Restoring Justice and Security in Intercultural Europe by Brunilda Pali Ivo Aertsen

Author:Brunilda Pali, Ivo Aertsen [Brunilda Pali, Ivo Aertsen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780367227548
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd (Sales)
Published: 2019-02-14T00:00:00+00:00

The notion of security in a post-conflict context

Security issues are central to the process of reconstruction and reconciliation in the post-conflict context (Ní Aoláin et al., 2011). In such a context, security is primarily linked to freedom from fear from new violence, internal conflicts, serious crime and human rights violations. Therefore, in the early phase of a post-conflict society the focus is on disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of ex-combatants, which is considered to be a key component of peace processes and post-conflict reconstruction (Brinkerhoff, 2005; Theidon, 2007). Sometimes even external peacekeeping troops are engaged in re-establishing security. In such situations, as pointed out by some authors, ‘internal and external actors must cooperate in mutually reinforcing socio-economic, governance and security dimensions of a highly fragile environment’ (Schnabel and Ehrhart, 2006, p. 7). In re-establishing security in a post-conflict society, the focus is very much on reforming the security sector (Schnabel and Ehrhart, 2005, according to Smith-Höhn, 2010, p. 2). Additionally, most resources are directed towards retributive and repressive mechanisms and instruments for dealing with the past, while no or little attention is paid to reconciliation and peace-building, and agency is often denied to both local political actors and citizens, including victims.

Notwithstanding the importance of the security sector reform, it is obvious that this does not provide a basis for creating socio-economic security (True, 2012), while socio-economic insecurity can ignite the conflict again and endanger the whole process of peace-building. Therefore, security sector transformation can only be accomplished if it reaches far beyond the military and police security context (in terms of providing physical safety for citizens) and if it encompasses economic, social, legal and political issues as well (Schnabel and Ehrhart, 2006). It seems that only when socio-economic development goes hand in hand with increasing security in terms of freedom from fear (from war, crime and violence) can the process of transforming a post-conflict society into a ‘normal’ society be completed. Therefore, we may conclude that in post-conflict societies the focus needs to be moved from the ‘state’ to ‘human’ security as a people-centred concept, which focuses on the protection of individuals. The human security concept shifts the focus ‘from political concerns to the importance of economic and social issues’ (Shinoda, 2004, p. 12). According to the United Nations Development Programme (1994, p. 23), the concept of human security refers to the protection of the vital core of all human lives in ways that enhance human freedoms and human fulfilment. It is identified as the protection of individuals from risks to their physical and psychological safety, dignity and well-being in a broader sense; thus, it has two main components: ‘freedom from fear’ and ‘freedom from want’. Consequently, the concept of human security refers to seven main categories/forms of security: economic, environmental, personal, political, food, health and community security. Therefore, human rights and needs could be, at least to some extent, considered as indicators of the achieved human security.

The findings of the above-mentioned empirical research conducted by the Victimology Society of Serbia

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