Human security and sustainable peace in western and northern regions of Uganda
Loading...
Date
2022-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala International University, College of Humanities and social Science
Abstract
Human security is an emerging field in security and peace studies, focusing on ensuring peace through harnessing resources towards meeting peoples’ needs. It is therefore based on this premise that this study was carried out and sought to understand how the promotion of human security can facilitate sustainable peace. The study sought to achieve four objectives and they are; To determine the effect of economic security on sustainable peace, to determine the influence of political security on sustainable peace, to examine the relationship between environmental security and sustainable peace, and to evaluate the relationship between community security and sustainable peace. The study was premised on two theories, namely; the rational choice theory by George Homans, Peter Balu and James Coleman, and Galtung’s theory of peace. A comparative research approach was used and two regions in Uganda were focused on, namely; Northern Uganda and Western Uganda. Furthermore, a mixed research methodology was adopted comprising survey and in-depth interviews to elicit data. 400 questionnaires were distributed and 383 were retrieved, while 57 individuals were purposively selected to collect qualitative data. Data collected was analyzed using a variety of analytical methods, including, correlation, multiple regressions, and descriptive methods of analysis. The issue of human security as a concept is relatively new and studies combining different elements of human security are very few and far-between. It was based on this premise that this study sought to find out how different elements of human security impacts sustainable peace. The findings have shown that all four elements of human security studied in the current research are significantly related to sustainable peace. The findings showed a positive correlation between economic security and sustainable peace, r(381)= .663, P<.001 implying that without economic security, peace cannot be sustained as people are going to agitate for better government and will do anything to ensure the change they want becomes a reality. Furthermore, the study found out that grassroot participation, and high level of democratization impacts the sustainability of peace. Also, the findings showed a positive correlation between political security and sustainable peace, r(381)= .683, P<.001, an indication that the higher the level of political security, the more likely sustainable peace will be achieved. Also, the study found a positive correlation between environmental security and sustainable peace, r(381)= .718, P<.001. This indicates that the higher the level of environmental security, the more likely sustainable peace will be achieved. Finally, the findings showed a positive correlation between community security and sustainable peace, r(381)= .705, P<.001. Based on the findings, the research recommended that there is a need for the government to create schemes that support the people economically and to also create an avenue for those that feel politically excluded to be included in the political discourse of the country. The researcher also called on research institutes to work on seeds that can survive extreme conditions in a bid to combat the effects of climate change. Finally, the government must ensure equity in the protection of lives, and justice must be seen to be impartial.
Description
A thesis submitted to the college of humanities and social sciences in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of doctor of philosophy degree in conflict resolution and peace building of Kampala International University Uganda.
Keywords
Human security, Sustainable peace, Uganda