Human Security in South Asia Explained | Challenges, Threats & Future Solutions
Human Security in South Asia Explained | Challenges, Threats & Future Solutions Introduction The concept of human security has emerged as one of the most important frameworks in international relations and development studies since the end of the Cold War. Traditionally, security was understood mainly in terms of protecting the state from external military threats. However, in the post–Cold War era, scholars and policymakers realized that protecting borders is not enough if people inside those borders face poverty, hunger, disease, unemployment, violence, and environmental disasters. This broader understanding of security focuses on the safety and dignity of individuals rather than only the survival of the state. In South Asia, human security is an especially critical issue. The region includes countries such as India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, and Afghanistan. It is home to nearly one-fourth of the world’s population. Despite economic growth i...