A new paradigm

THIS book come at a time of growing concern over the warped concepts, ideologies and methodologies that dominate globalisation, development and global governance, perceived mostly in a macro and material context related to economic reforms, liberalisation, Foreign Investment, GDP growth and world trade. Poverty reduction, expected to take place as a "trickle down" and spin-off, is not happening.

The "growing inequality and widespread poverty that characterises the era of 'neo-liberal' development" and "uneven distribution of the benefits of the globalisation process, and the general failure of that process to attend to the human security of the majority of humanity" has been drawing the attention of thinkers and writers. Among them there is a collective desire to "remove the intellectual blinkers arising from the emphasis on a state- level analysis and to put people first". This book is a step in this direction and the author being a keen student of global politics and international relations is well qualified for this.

"Uneven distribution of the benefits of the globalisation process" is described in the UNDP Report, 1997, dealing with global deprivation. It depicts a global society bereft of conscience or concern for human suffering and deprivation. While one third of the human race is reeling in poverty and penury, a microscopic minority of the global population is wallowing in opulent wealth and splendour. In fact things are likely to get worse as "global governance" tightens its grip on the hapless third- world nations. In an inhuman system where over one third of world's population do not have a secure life, harping merely on "GDP growth" and "unrestricted world trade" as the central theme of globalisation and development is indeed perverse and blinkered. There is a need for a realistic and holistic approach to evaluate globalisation, development and the system of governance and provide a talisman that could measure its effectiveness. The author suggests "human security" as the talisman and that is the theme of the book. Human dignity and poverty reduction are at the core of this theme.

Making a fine distinction between "income poverty" and "human poverty," the author suggests that neo-liberal reforms seek to address only the "income poverty" while virtually ignoring "human poverty". This is what has led to the skewed, unsustainable "development" described in the UNDP Report. It is in this context that the author advocates human security, which is much more than "material growth and sufficiency" (income security). "Human security" is described as "a condition of existence in which basic material needs are met and in which human dignity, including meaningful participation in the life of the community, can be met. While material sufficiency lies at the core of human security, in addition the concept encompasses non-material dimension to form a qualitative whole. Human security is oriented towards an active and substantive notion of democracy, and is directly engaged with discussions of democracy at all levels, from the local to the global". This is fresh and positive thinking, harnessing four vital elements - material sufficiency, human diginity, democracy and participatory governance - that constitute the core of a civilised human society. One without the other is incomplete and unsustainable.

Throughout the book the author has argued for human security to replace state security, which is the obsession of all countries, big and small. And for this she has marshalled three strong arguments based on extensive research: a) In the aftermath of the Cold War, intrastate conflicts have become more prevalent than interstate conflicts. These conflicts are fought with low technology, and in contrast to the very beginning of the 20th Century, most of the the casualities now - 75 per cent - are civilian with a disproportionate share of women and children; b) For most people today, a feeling of insecurity arises more from worries about daily life than from the dread of war or any cataclysmic world event. Job security, income security, health security, environmental security, security from crime, these are the emerging concerns of human security all over the world and c) The third world, which was expected to disappear with the advent of globalisation, is in fact expanding and becoming global itself with the Communist block (former second world) joining it instead of the first world of the rich.

To these could be added a fourth dimension that is becoming a reality in this third world wherein live the vast majority of the human race. While economies are expanding and getting globalised, politics in these countries is shrinking and descending from national, regional and state levels to communal/ case/ tribal outfits causing tensions and conflicts that never existed before. This phenomenon is taking place primarily because of a growing perception that global and national governance, as being practiced today does not provide adequate humn dignity and security.

The author's critique of the globalisation and developmental model and advocacy of human security has been sharp and focussed. But when it comes to an "alternative pathway for the 21st Century", it becomes vague and general. The chapter on this subject seeks to cover a vast and wide spectrum of governance and development-core values, vision, investment, code of conduct, fair and ethical trade, national regulation, regional and global action. In the event, in the author's own words, "The alternative pathway unlike the reformist, is not formalised in a systematic manner. It does not exist 'out there', as does the reformist. It cannot be grasped, measured, neatly packaged and put on the supermarket shelf as can be the reformist". These limitations notwithstanding, the author is confident of the "alternative pathway's" potential significance for the achievement of human security. "The alternative pathway is in a dynamic state of evolution. The task here (in the book) is to capture its essence."

It is to the credit of the author that she has accomplished this task admirably in a book that is concise and compact. For those concerned with human dignity and security, this is a topical and eminently readable book.

M. G. DEVASAHAYAM

Global Governance, Development and Human Security: The Challenge of Poverty and Inequality, Caroline Thomas, Pluto Press and Arawak, p.149, price not mentioned.

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