Between Borders and Bodies: Rethinking National and Human Security

Area of Science:

• Security Studies
• International Relations
• Canadian Foreign Policy

Background:

• Canada faces complex national and human security challenges.
• Sovereignty, alliances, and international relations impact security.
• Existing security practices can perpetuate inequality and harm human rights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze Canada's approach to national and human security.
• To explore the costs and limitations of current security strategies.
• To propose an integrated model for security policy.

Main Methods:

• Expert insights from diverse fields (defense, foreign policy, law, human rights).
• Analysis of financial and institutional costs.
• Examination of evolving security models (coalitions, total defence, resilience).
• Critique of border regimes and legal enforcement.

Main Results:

• Canada's security is challenged by alliance fragility and geopolitical shifts.
• Ad hoc coalitions and domestic resilience are increasing.
• Border policies and selective law enforcement can cause racialized violence and undermine humanitarian norms.
• Military preparedness alone is insufficient for comprehensive security.

Conclusions:

• Canada's security strategy must integrate national defense with human security principles.
• Justice, equity, and human rights are foundational to true security.
• State protection is meaningless without the safety and freedom of its people.