Re-thinking the human security concept in the post-independence Tanzania

Abstract

In recent decades, the concept of human security has attracted increasing attention from scholars and practitioners. While there is broad agreement on its normative goals, such as the protection and empowerment of individuals, significant disagreements persist regarding the social realities it addresses, its conceptual evolution, and the conditions under which it becomes institutionalised. Drawing on a literature review, this article examines the multiple meanings attributed to the concept of human security and its evolution in Tanzania’s policy domains. It argues that, while human security gained international recognition in the 1990s, it resonates strongly with Tanzania’s historical and policy experiences.