Page 418 - 100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International_V-Petrovsky_private special edition

100 Reflections that Crafted Geneva International

Comprehensive security is “human security”

For the first forty-five years of the United Nations' existence, the concept
of security across the world, but most acutely in Europe, was dominated by
Superpower rivalry. This meant the security agenda was narrowly defined,
focusing on nuclear security, territorial security of sovereign States, and
the promotion of national interest. Even at the end of the Cold War the focus
was still very much on the protection of the nation-State. It was only as we
moved away from the Cold War era that the concept of security
become more comprehensive and the idea of ‘human security’ gained
credence. This resulted from a growing recognition that security for States did
not necessarily result in greater security for ordinary people.

Human security reaches far beyond issues of territorial security to embrace
the economic, social and political rights of individuals. In short it puts human
rights at the heart of the agenda. The United Nations now widely interprets
security issues in this way. And the concept of Human security has become
central to international efforts aimed at addressing the root causes of conflict
and instability.

How does this broad concept of security apply to Europe? It was in fact in
Europe that this broad vision of security was first implemented. The basic
concept of human security is implicit in the thinking of one of the key
architects of what is now the European Union, Jean Monnet. He was the first to
understand that following World War II European security depended not only
on a strategic balance of power. He knew that Franco-German reconciliation
needed also to be based on strong political, economic, and cultural ties. And
that these had to be strong enough so as to make the use of force, as a means of
settling disputes between the two countries, inconceivable. Over the past few
decades we've seen these beliefs evolve into a strong European Union, binding
Western European states into an entity of stability and prosperity.

The challenge for us all now is how to extend this success to the rest of the
continent and in doing so close the divide between east and west. This is a
political and economic challenge, as much as anything, which goes far beyond
limiting numbers of nuclear warheads and conventional troops. In Central and
Eastern Europe, it involves strengthening democracy and the rule of law; the
fostering of sustained economic growth; tempering nationalistic demands; and
raising living standards.

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