Chapter 8: Human Security in Southeast Asian International Relations §

(F) Day of the week: Wednesday Class: IS210 Created Time: May 13, 2020 2:13 PM Database: Class Notes Database Date: May 13, 2020 2:13 PM Days Till Date: Passed Last Edited Time: January 20, 2022 11:31 PM Type: Lecture

Introduction §

After WW2: Paradigm shift from state to human security.

Cold War & WW2 shift of focus for leaders to protect people

I. Human Needs and Human Security §

What is Human Security?

|1994, New Dimension on Human Security: The twin basic goals:

• Freedom of Want: provide basic needs for people to survive
• Freedom from Fear: states’ respect of human rights, freedom to criticize…

Critics say it need to address both national and international issues???

UN says Threat on Human Security are economic and social factors

• Poverty, disease, employment, living standard, gender inequality…

|2003, UN Secretary General Commission report

Human Security: stressed protecting and empowering the people

• Ban suppressive acts
• Free and fair election for citizen power to control who lead the state

Problem:

• Of Implementation human rights protection internationally (authoritarianism…)

The UN Millennium Development Goals §

• Eliminate extreme hunger and poverty; • Achieve universal primary education; • Promote gender equality and empower women; • Reduce child mortality; • Improve maternal health; • Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; • Ensure environmental sustainability; and • Develop a global partnership for development.

Progress §

Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand on track to 2015 target

Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Philippines falling behind

Cambodia and Timor-Lest out of the race

Countries	2006	2015
Singapore	25	11
Brunei	30	31
Malaysia	63	62
Lao	141	141
Cambodia	143	143
Myanmar	132	148

• Governance and Human Development defined by the UN
  • The government must have political will and capacity to promote social economic policies for public goods with fairly and uniformly for all of the population
  • Political will is not necessary for democratic states but is key for good governance
  • Corruption is main obstacle to human rights
  • UN and Int’ community can’t deal with authoritarian regimes, sanctions hurt vulnerable civilians instead
  • China’s soft power of economy still able to practice authoritarianism

Human Security and the Vulnerable Groups §

Refugees in SEA §

• Cambodia civil war, genocide, different changes of regimes, dictatorship
• During Cold War: Vietnam pushed Chinese refugees out (fear of security)
• Myanmar: repressive against ethnic groups

Migrant Labor §

|2007: ASEAN Declaration on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Labor

Bilateral agreements promise no guarantee of protection. No political will

Humanitarian Relief §

External Assistance from developed countries (+UN&NGOs): Tsunami, Typhon

Pandemic Disease §

HIV/AIDS, SARS, Avian Flu, and COVID-19

Human Rights and Human Security §

ASEAN’s position on Human Rights:

• ASEAN signed the 1954 Human Charter with the 1958 Universal Declaration of Human Rights

  Promising to uphold human rights

• 2003: ASENA adopted the Declaration of Human Rights

• Human Rights constrained by ASEAN Way

• US & EU effective in seeking HR in ASEAN: through Sanctions

• NGOs: Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch: monitoring human rights internationally

Regional View of Human Rights

ASEAN Leaders view human rights and freedom as a western concept.

Economic, social, and cultural rights are more important for “human dignity and individual achievement”

Belief in hierarchical system of higher and lower position of each individual

1993 Vietnna Declaration states even if theres differences in economic, social and cultural factors, States still have the duty to provide human rights to everyone

• CLMV opposed human rights being in ASEAN Charter
• US and EU pressures ASEAN on Myanmar’s human rise issue

Past Crimes Against Humanity in SEA §

• Cambodia: The Khmer Rouge
• Indonesia: suppression and killing of Timor-leste

Conclusion §

More focus on individual security and human security

from past traumatic events for civilians in wars of 20th century

ASEAN Human Rights Situation Remain Poor §

• ASEAN Leaders see HR as western idea
• Member states still hold authoritarianism, plagued with corruption, injustice, and HR violations