THE CONCEPT OF RESILIENCE AS A BROADER METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH FOR ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN SECURITY IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Abstract

With respect to the set of values entrenched in the concept of human security, nominal and non-nominal, it is justified to argue about local community as the most convenient framework or context, not just for assessment of human security- identification, analysis and evaluation of security risks and threats, but also for its treatment, or, in other words, specific action in order to accomplish, as positive as it can be, adaptation, mitigation or elimination of unsecure phenomena, including increasing security and safety. Towards that goal, having in mind the urgent need for innovative methodological approach, as a result of an inevitable reconceptualization of human security itself, in the recent researches focus was most commonly on increasing community preparedness, by participatory mechanisms in which way their members are involved in all phases of assessment of human security and further specific activities. With appreciation for the practical contribution that application of Community-based participatory research (CBPR), and related community preparedness, or readiness, as research tools, have on assessment of actual parameters of human security in local community, as much as on defining and formulating guidelines for further navigating it’s members toward increasing safety and security, the authors suggest broadening of this methodological approach by including the concept of resilience. Endeavouring to strengthen the resilience of local communities (meaning, in this context, ability of a community to prevail existing problems with minimum of negative consequences, and to revert in state of normal functioning – safe and secure atmosphere from the perspective of its members) could potentially lead to valuable and specific effects in practice- by analogy with crisis management- in response and recovery phases.

Keywords

• human security
• resiliance
• local community
• crisis management