From Traditional to Contemporary: An Examination of the Security Paradigm from a Human Rights Perspective

Abstract

Tracing its etymological lineage to the Latin term securitas, this study analyzes the paradigmatic transformation of security throughout history and its dynamic interplay with the discourse of human rights. Rather than merely reflecting a passive state of freedom from anxiety, security is conceptualized here as a multifaceted and methodological construct—one that integrates objective, subjective, ontological, and collective dimensions while focusing on the active mitigation of threats. The theoretical underpinnings of modern security paradigms are examined through the classical "state of nature" frameworks of Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, whose inquiries into authority, liberty, and property remain foundational to contemporary security thought. Crucially, the research highlights how post-Cold War globalization has eroded the traditional realist and military-centric perspectives that long positioned the state as the exclusive referent object of security. As a result, the scope of security has expanded into the economic, social, environmental, and cyber domains. In an era defined by transnational crime, global pandemics, and burgeoning technological risks, the conventional focus on state-centric survival is increasingly yielding to a "human security" approach centered on the individual. The findings of this research suggest that security should not be viewed merely as a defensive reflex, but rather as a political foundation that enables the realization of fundamental rights. Ultimately, the study concludes that the legitimacy of modern security policies depends on a rational equilibrium that prioritizes human dignity, equality, and universal rights. Lasting global stability, therefore, is contingent upon a perspective that reinforces the synergy between security frameworks and human rights.

Keywords: Security, human rights, security paradigms, human security, globalization.