The Role of Securitisation in Addressing Emerging Health Security Threats in the 21st Century: a Case Study of Kenya and South Africa

Abstract

The end of the twenty-first Century brought in both opportunities and challenges in the world of health and security. For instance, the Cold War wound-up with the need to expand security from what it was traditionally known; to include aspects of human security. Therefore, one of the key human security areas has been health, which became a strategic foreign policy and diplomatic concern worldwide. The idea of Securitization of diseases started quite early with the emergence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Disease Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) at the beginning of the twenty-first Century by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the year 2000. Since then, there have been many infectious diseases of international public health concern that have been securitised such as ―swine flu or (H1N1), Ebola and SARS‖ among many others. This research thus aimed to examine the role of securitisation in addressing emerging health security threats in twenty-first Century utilizing a case study of Kenya and South Africa. This study was anchored on the Securitisation theory and Institutional theory respectively. The target population were experts from the security sector and health related ministries and stakeholders. Sampling was carried out using the snowballing techniques. The primary data was collected via a questionnaire with both structured and unstructured questions. In addition, central tendency analysed quantitative data while qualitative data used document and context analysis. The final data outcome was presented by use of frequency tables, pie charts, bar graphs and narrative. All ethical requirements including consent from respondents were ensured. The research findings intend to inform academicians on the application of the securitization of health threats and its role in the future. This research also identified new research areas for scholars in the subject of health security and securitization. To the policy makers, the study promotes awareness on the securitisation of emerging health security threats, opportunities, including strengthening global health security. This study intentionally adhered to all the required ethical considerations, including, confidentially, data protection laws and consent. This study found that the ultimate aim of securitization and human security are entrenched in all societies, but their connection is not well comprehended. In addition, this research found that the appreciation of the concept of securitization varies; hence the definitions were subjective, based on the background of the respondent in question. This study concludes that securitization of health threats demonstrates that African states politicize health securitization to serve their ends. This research thus recommends that the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with multiagency lead other concerned agencies in Kenya and South Africa, need to advocate the strengthening of their own health systems in order to realize securitization aspirations.