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Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had important implications for non-traditional security (NTS). The global outbreak has demonstrated again that NTS issues can pose existential security threats to individuals, society and the state, evident in the high death toll and significant disruptions to socio-economic activities. Vulnerable groups such as women, children, migrant workers and displaced populations have been affected disproportionately. The various containment measures in national COVID-19 responses have lowered emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants and thus benefited climate action and environmental protection. Meanwhile, the national and local lockdowns have exposed the vulnerabilities and risks in global logistics and supply chains, which can affect humanitarian action and food supplies.
Meanwhile, the pandemic has catalysed or accelerated transformation in society, such as an emphasis on science-based approach to policy making, greater use of technology and remote working. These trends apply to the governance of other NTS issues in varying degrees. However, the transformation has given rise to new challenges, such as digital divide, data protection and competition for resources between different NTS issues.
Against this background, this webinar aims to engage the discussion on how the world will need to respond to NTS issues differently amid an ongoing pandemic. It will be the second segment of a two-part NTS webinar. The first part was held in June 2021 and covered climate security, food security and nuclear security. In the second webinar, the speakers will discuss the linkages between different NTS issues, such as pandemics and disasters, as well as innovations in NTS governance, such as cash programming and remote working in emergency response.
About the Speakers
Lina Gong is a Research Fellow with the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Programme at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Her research interests are in non-traditional security studies in East Asia, humanitarian affairs, China’s foreign policy, and global governance. She has published several journal articles and book chapters on non-traditional security issues in Asia as well as on China’s foreign policy.
Mr. Christopher Chen is an Associate Research Fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore.
He obtained a Master of International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts (Media & Communication and Politics & International Studies) from the University of Melbourne (UniMelb), Australia. He currently specialises in the area of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. His research interests include HADR in the Asia-Pacific; institutional memory; human rights in Asia; forced migration; politics and conflicts in the Asia-Pacific.
Prior to joining the Centre, he served an internship with the International Detention Coalition (IDC) in Melbourne where he was tasked to produce advocacy communications materials and periodic insights. He also produced a briefing paper to assist the IDC in developing its strategy for engagement with ASEAN on the issue of child immigration detention and on promoting alternatives to detention.
S. Nanthini is a Research Analyst on the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Programme at the Centre of Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre) , S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) , Nanyang Technological University (NTU) , Singapore. She holds a Masters in International Relations (International Security) from the University of Melbourne, and a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Gender Studies) from La Trobe University. During her time in Melbourne, she volunteered with the humanitarian response agency RedR Australia where she furthered her interest in the security aspects of humanitarian situations.
Prior to joining RSIS, Nanthini was an intern at the Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore and has written for the Young Diplomats as their Regional Content Writer for Southeast Asia. Her research interests include human security in Southeast Asia, looking at the HADR landscape through a gendered lens and the role of multilateralism in the security architecture of the Asia-Pacific.
Opening Remarks
Prof Mely Caballero-Anthony is Professor of International Relations and President’s Chair for International Relations and Security Studies. She is also Head of the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. Prof. Caballero-Anthony teaches courses on non-traditional security in Asia and security governance and has served as the Secretary-General of the Consortium on Non-Traditional Security Studies in Asia since 2008. Her research interests include regionalism and multilateralism in Asia-Pacific, global governance, human security and non-traditional security, nuclear security and conflict prevention. She is also currently member of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network on Nuclear Non-Proliferation (APLN). From 2015 to 2017, Prof Anthony was Vice President at-large of the Governing Council of the International Studies Association (ISA) and is a member of the ISA’s Global South Task Force. In 2015, she was a visiting fellow at George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs. From 2013 to 2017, Prof Anthony was a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters (ABDM) and served as its Chairperson in 2016. From 2011 to 2012, she was Director of External Relations at the ASEAN Secretariat. She has published extensively on a broad range of political and security issues in Asia-Pacific in peer-reviewed journals and international academic press. Her latest books, both single-authored and co-edited, include: Negotiating Governance on Non-Traditional Security in Southeast Asia and Beyond, An Introduction to Non-Traditional Security Studies, Human Security and Climate Change, Asia on the Move.
Moderator
Dr Alistair D. B. Cook is Coordinator of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Programme and Senior Fellow at the Centre for Non-Traditional Security Studies (NTS Centre), S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. His research interests focus geographically on the Asia-Pacific and Myanmar in particular and thematically on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), foreign policy and regional cooperation. He has taught undergraduate, graduate and professional development courses at Purdue University, University of Melbourne, Deakin University, Nanyang Technological University, Australian National University, Singapore Civil Defence Academy and SAFTI.
