Conventional ideas of human security grew out of post-war Basic Human Needs, and now include ways of identifying threats to human security, regions of insecurity, the relation between under-development and insecurity, and the designation of those who may be qualified to remedy human insecurity. This structure, however, is not capable of resolving the 'new' threats to human security experienced by local populations such as food insecurity, incapacitating gender disparities, and HIV. Threats to human insecurity that have been 'newly' identified also relate to previous policies to enhance economic growth and exports in developing countries, yet also led to greater movements of destitute or unskilled populations, loss of subsistence, and HIV. The local economic and social backgrounds to human insecurity arise from cycles of landlessness, illiteracy and joblessness that further threaten the human security of the region. With the new focus on human security a new understanding is possible of such local and daily insecurity and its impact at the national and international levels.

The 21st century center of excellence program "Policy innovation initiative: human security research in Japan and Asia"