Paper short abstract:

Human security, a holistic, human-centered concept is a transdisciplinary in nature. ¿Is transdisciplinary a valid method to consider? I discuss the fundamentals of transdisciplinary methods as proposed by Max-Neef (2005)a and Fals Borda (2008) to understand individual´s fears and uncertainties.

Paper long abstract:

Latest human reports propose human security as a holistic concept to tackle security issues from a human-centered approach ( UNDP Report, 2021, 2022 ). We deal with a transdisciplinary concept that understands security not from the military–state concept of defense of the territory and its borders from external enemies, but, it rather proposes to understand the fears and uncertainties that individuals and communities feel in their context.

A call for a renewal in the theorizing and practice of human security thinking and application has been emphasized. A discussion about the relevant and valid methods that should be employed for that purpose becomes an important issue. I propose that for such renewal, transdisciplinary methods for research (Nicolescu, 2022)and action must be made explicit as the methodological process for designing and implementing new strategies on public policy related to human security. Transdiciplinarity as a methodological approach becomes relevant when studies and policies are formulated in particular contexts, for instance in the case of land redistribution and restitution for victims of conflict in the case of Colombia. Human security problems are unstructured, messy problems and they are contextual by definition. To solve these problems it is important to involve the dimensions of being, feeling, and thinking of individuals and communities. They also require cooperative solutions. Human security problems cannot be solved if the needs, fears, and subjective insecurities are considered as dynamic processes. Fears of insecurities originate in the eye of the beholder and cannot be solved by fragmented, sectorial unilateral thinking and actions by state agencies that hardly connect. I stress the importance of assessing human insecurities directly from the dimensions of being, thinking, and feeling of the persons and groups involved. In this paper, I will discuss the fundamentals of transdisciplinary methods as originally proposed by Manfred Max-Neef (2005)a and Orlando Fals Borda (2008). Heidegger´s insight of dasein ( being in the world) and the concepts of authenticity (1968) are important to be considered.

References

Fals Borda, O. (2008). Action research in the convergence of disciplines. International Journal of Action Research, 9(2): 155–167.

Heidegger, M. (1968). What is called thinking? (J. G. Gray, Trans.). New York: Harper Row.

Max Neef, M (2005). Foundations of Transdisciplinarity. Ecological Economics. Vol 53.

Nicolescu, B. (2002). Manifesto of transdisciplinarity (K.-C. Voss, Trans.). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme). 2022. 2022 Special Report on Human Security. New York.