CHANGES IN THE SECURITY AGENDA: CRITICAL SECURITY STUDIES AND HUMAN SECURITY. THE CASE OF CHINA

• Main Author: Nguyen THI THUY HANG
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National University of Political Science and Public Administration, Bucharest 2012-06-01
• Series: Romanian Journal of Society and Politics
• Subjects: human development; the security agenda; Critical Security Studies; traditional and non-traditional security; China; the state; security studies
• Online Access: http://rjsp.politice.ro/files/June2012/hang.pdf

Since the end of the Cold War the meaning of security has fundamentally changed. Issues which are labeled as non-traditional security namely human development, economic crises, environmental degradation, natural disaster, poverty, epidemics… have become a crucial part of the security agenda. These changes have been intensified with the development of the two approaches: Critical Security Studies and Human Security. This article explores how the meaning of security has changed and how the boundaries between traditional and non-traditional security have become blurred. The case of China is taken as empirical evidence to support the assertion that security has evolved beyond its traditional focus on the state.