Rethinking Human Security Through Feminist Lenses

Year 2024, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 361 - 380, 19.10.2024

Pınar Sayan Şirin Duygulu

https://doi.org/10.53376/ap.2024.13

Abstract

At the beginning of the 2000s, the increased salience of the concept of human security was a welcome development both in academic and policy circles. Problematizing the state's central role as the principal object of security allowed human beings' security needs and concerns to be put in front and center, at least in theory, if not necessarily in practice. The increasing traction the concept got also allowed several non-traditional security threats, such as environment, health and migration, to be approached through security lenses and put on security agendas. Despite the burgeoning literature and the notable frequency at which the concept of human security got incorporated into policy discussions, it has lost, at least partially, its analytical traction and policy saliency. The lack of a clear definition as well as vague and tactical use of the concept by policymakers have raised concerns about the human security concept turning into an empty signifier. While the human security concept was welcome by some feminist approaches, it is also criticized by others. This article aims to discuss the human security concept through different feminist perspectives and understand its adaptability in the field based on a comparative interpretive analysis of feminist foreign policy initiatives by Sweden, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Spain, Chile and Luxembourg. To realize this aim, we analyze the conceptualization and implementation of feminist foreign policies and how they put the human security approach into practice. We seek to problematize how feminist foreign policies tackle the ambiguities and limitations within the human security framework, and to what degree these policies confront or maintain current power dynamics and state-centered security models. We argue that feminist foreign policies do highlight the problems related to gender equality and contribute to their solutions, but do not challenge patriarchy and the power relations behind it. As such, while they contribute to better implementation of human security as a guiding principle for foreign policy, conventional foreign policy concerns limit the change they can create on the ground.

Keywords

Human Security, Security, Feminism, Feminist Foreign Policy, Gender Equality

İnsani Güvenliği Feminist Bakış Açılarıyla Tekrar Düşünmek

Abstract

2000'li yılların başında insani güvenlik kavramının giderek daha fazla ön plana çıkması hem akademik hem de politika çevrelerinde memnuniyetle karşılanan bir gelişme olmuştur. Güvenliğin temel nesnesi olarak devletin merkezi rolünü sorunsallaştırmak, pratikte olmasa da en azından teoride insanların güvenlik ihtiyaçlarının ve endişelerinin ön plana ve merkeze alınmasına olanak sağlamıştır. Kavrama gösterilen artan ilgi aynı zamanda çevre, sağlık ve göç gibi geleneksel olmayan birçok meseleye güvenlik merceği aracılığıyla yaklaşılmasına ve güvenlik gündemlerinin oluşturulmasına da olanak tanımıştır. İnsani güvenlik kavramı üzerine gelişmekte olan literatüre ve politika tartışmalarına rağmen, kavram analitik çekiciliğini ve politik açıdan belirginliğini en azından kısmen kaybetmiştir. Kavramın net bir tanımının olmayışı ve politika yapıcılar tarafından muğlak ve taktiksel bir biçimde kullanılması, insani güvenlik kavramının içi boş bir göstergeye dönüşmesi endişesini doğurmuştur. İnsani güvenlik kavramı bazı feminist yaklaşımlar tarafından olumlu karşılanırken bazıları tarafından da eleştirilmektedir. Bu makale, insani güvenlik kavramını farklı feminist perspektifler aracılığıyla tartışmayı ve İsveç, Kanada, Meksika, Fransa, Almanya, İspanya, Şili ve Lüksemburg'un feminist dış politika girişimlerinin karşılaştırmalı yorumlayıcı analizi temelinde bu kavramın alana uyarlanabilirliğini anlamayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu amacı gerçekleştirmek için feminist dış politikaların kavramsallaştırılması, uygulanması ve insani güvenlik yaklaşımının nasıl hayata geçirildiğini analiz etmekteyiz. Feminist dış politika yaklaşımlarının insani güvenlik çerçevesindeki belirsizlikleri ve sınırlamaları nasıl ele aldığını ve bu politikaların mevcut güç dinamiklerini ve devlet merkezli güvenlik modellerini ne derece sorguladığını veya koruduğunu sorgulamayı amaçlıyoruz. Feminist dış politikaların toplumsal cinsiyet eşitliğiyle ilgili sorunları öne çıkardığını ve çözümlerine katkıda bulunduğunu ancak ataerkilliğe ve onun arkasındaki güç ilişkilerine meydan okumadığını savunmaktayız. Bu sebeple, insani güvenliğin dış politikaya yol gösterici bir ilke olarak daha iyi uygulanmasına katkıda bulunurken, geleneksel dış politika kaygıları sahada yaratabilecekleri değişimi sınırladığını tartışıyoruz.

Keywords

İnsani Güvenlik, Güvenlik, Feminizm, Feminist Dış Politika, Toplumsal Cinsiyet Eşitliği

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