Last June 28, the Political Science Department held a roundtable discussion on peace and human security with all its faculty members. The event launched the department’s Peace and Human Security Initiative (P&HSI).
His Excellency Jesus Domingo, the Philippine ambassador to New Zealand, was invited to the forum and contributed to the discussion on peace and human security.
“I am most gratified that DLSU is the vanguard of study of the Peace and Human Security concept in the Philippines. Its world-renowned Political Science Department and its dynamic linkages with local and international security stakeholders make it an ideal academic lead institution,” Ambassador Domingo said. “Peace and Human Security is also a most timely focus area given the emphasis of the new Duterte administration in combating criminality, corruption and drug abuse.”
Peace and Human Security Initiative
Under the supervision of the Department Chair Dr. Eric Vincent Batalla, the department established the initiative earlier this year in March. It aims to analyze current issues and occurrences that threaten the peace and security of people and societies. Through this initiative, the department hopes to eventually establish a course subject for both undergraduate and graduate students. The creation of a specialized degree program in the future is also being considered.
The initiative focuses on four key areas, namely, digital societies and information communication technology for development, law enforcement and police reform, innovation in social programs, and disaster risk reduction and management. In doing so, the department wishes to address issues on cybercrime, police training, social programs, and natural disasters.
The P&HSI plans to encourage collaboration among different fields of studies to promote new ideas, further academic knowledge, and diversify the discourse on peace and human security. The results of these efforts should aid and guide policy-makers, organizational leaders, scholars, and practitioners.
At the moment, the initiative is still in its research stage with the department gathering data to create a comprehensive resource database for issues on peace and human security. To support this effort, the department plans on holding more forums in the future with knowledgeable guest speakers targeted at interested students. The department is also looking at students’ senior research papers as another source for information on peace and human security.
Importance of Peace and Human Security Initiative
Since the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, terrorism has become a great concern for many countries in the free world. The growing global threat of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and prevailing unrest in Mindanao calls for the development and enhancement of the academic knowledge on peace and human security.
The need to develop the discussion of human security also extends to prevention and mitigation of the effects of climate change and natural disasters.
With all of these manmade and natural calamities, Gerardo Eusebio, a professor from the Political Science Department, explains, “There is no question that the most important subject matter to develop now would be the area of peace and human security.”
DLSU as the forerunner of peace and human security
Prior to the P&HSI, a course on human security was taught to graduate students in the Development Policy program. However, it was removed from the curriculum for further development. With the growing need and focus on peace and human security, the Political Science Department hopes to address the academic gap and make DLSU the forerunner of human security and peace studies in the Philippines and Southeast Asia.
“If you wanted to study human security, we [DLSU] could be the entry point and the main trendsetter of peace and human security in the world,” expresses Eusebio.
Currently, there are very few universities in the country that can address the concerns of peace and human security. Eusebio identifies the Philippine College of Criminology, the Philippine Military Academy, and the Philippine National Police Academy as the only contributors to the field in the Philippines.
Eusebio believes that the Political Science Department has the necessary resources and faculty to successfully execute the P&HSI and envisions the government calling on the department to aid in peace talks and other human security initiatives.
