Human security and reasons for its underdevelopment in Afghanistan

Abstract

This scholarly article delves into the concept of human security, which entails safeguarding the essential core of individuals from pervasive threats while ensuring their long-term flourishing and fulfillment. While originally associated with "freedom from fear and violence," the term has expanded to encompass a broad spectrum of hazards, ranging from conflicts between nations and internal civil wars to acts of genocide, mass murder, homelessness, and the inadequacy of political and social structures in meeting the basic needs of contemporary citizens. Afghanistan serves as a poignant case study, where the absence of human security is starkly evident in the prevailing circumstances of poverty and devastation experienced throughout its cities and villages. Consequently, this article aims to address a fundamental question: Who bears the primary responsibility for these calamities, and what factors contribute to the underdevelopment of human security in Afghanistan? Employing an analytical approach, the study identifies several key factors, including centuries-old ethnocentric thinking within the male-dominated governance, systemic inefficiencies, administrative corruption, disregard for religious teachings, and the power-centric motives of the ruling authorities. These findings shed light on the intricate dynamics shaping the underdevelopment of human security in the country and offer insights for future research and policy interventions.