From hard to human security: Rethinking the security architecture in Africa

Abstract

This chapter highlights the dilemma faced by African countries within the context of security investment vis-à-vis development. From the data available on security and military spending, it can be seen that most African countries spend a great deal of money on arms importation and place an emphasis on hard security at the expense of human security. However, several studies have shown that in the current global scenario heavy spending on military arms and hard security at the expense of other crucial requirements such as health, education, roads, social security, and infrastructure cannot guarantee positive development in a political system. Indeed, poverty and inequality are two major causes of violence in society, and these issues cannot be solved by heavy spending on military arms. There is therefore a need for African leaders to invest more in human security in order to accomplish a peaceful and stable system. Here, Nigeria's poverty profile has been used to examine the link between poverty and insecurity.