Proposal Topic: Human Resilience Building Mental And Emotion
Proposaltopic Human Resilience Building Mental And Emotional Strengt
Proposaltopic Human Resilience Building Mental And Emotional Strengt
Proposal Topic: Human Resilience: Building Mental and Emotional Strength
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the fight for survival and major traumatic events shape us humans, mentally, psychologically, and emotionally. Human resilience and security focus on our basic needs as humans and what we need to feel secure and live our day-to-day lives. It also examines how external factors such as the federal government, NGOs, NPOs, and organizations like WHO play roles in providing necessary resources to help people achieve goals related to food security, job security, economic security, health security, and more. This goal requires teamwork: everyone has a role to play.
This paper’s research methodology is based on discussions and lessons learned from previous research, class discussions, and recent global events to provide an overview of human resilience and security.
Statement of the Paper
The road to resilience is tenacious. To understand and transform mindsets to face the unthinkable and emerge victorious depends on perception and circumstances. Many individuals respond to such circumstances with intense emotions and uncertainty. The human mind is both fragile and powerful, capable of extraordinary ideas and acts of genius, but also susceptible to fear and despair. The outcome often depends on the individual's will and motivation. For example, Corrie Ten Boom survived the death camps and later became an epitome of forgiveness and kindness by establishing rehabilitation centers for former guards. Conversely, others in similar situations succumbed to bitterness.
Ultimately, individual choice determines who one becomes. This paper will explore this theme further through my personal discovery.
Topic of Focus
I will focus my paper on the communal conflict in Myanmar and explore why the Burmese government and its people have not adopted the peace-building approach exemplified by Sri Lanka, which successfully ceased its communal conflict and fostered national unity. I aim to analyze why Myanmar has not followed a similar path despite shared challenges and circumstances.
Program Outcomes Addressed
The Master of Human Security and Resilience (MHSR) program emphasizes several learning outcomes:
1. Concept of Human Security: Understanding its development, theoretical foundations, key indicators, and distinction from state-centric security models. Human security prioritizes protecting individuals from both traditional threats (military, government repression) and non-traditional threats (food scarcity, health crises, economic instability, environmental issues, social unrest). It emphasizes safety from chronic threats like hunger and disease and from sudden disruptions to daily life.
2. Human Security and Governance: Assessing how governance at various levels influences human security, illustrated by cases like Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, where delayed government response highlighted the importance of self-sufficiency and resilient local systems.
3. Human Security and Conflict: Analyzing how conflicts, especially ethnic unrest in countries like Burma and Sri Lanka, undermine social and economic stability, affecting national and international security. Ethnic groups involved in conflict often feel unsafe and may act defensively, which perpetuates instability.
4. Cause of Communal Conflict: Demonstrating the ability to analyze factors causing communal conflicts, including resource competition, government bias, and cooperation levels among groups. Understanding these causes is essential for conflict resolution.
5. Conflict Resolution Mechanisms: Understanding diplomatic, military, legal, and economic measures for resolving ethnic and communal conflicts, recognizing strengths and limitations of each approach.
6. Environmental Security: Developing a definition of environmental security, emphasizing how natural disasters and resource depletion pose threats to human security and national stability.
7. Environmental Security and Global Trends: Exploring how climate change and population growth exacerbate political and economic instability that can threaten global and U.S. security, through factors such as natural disasters, resource conflicts, and migration.
8. Sources of Resilience: Evaluating how resilience manifests differently across countries, influenced by intrapersonal traits, social skills, relationships, and institutional supports. Various sources like faith, community networks, and individual persistence contribute to resilience.
9. Resilience and Security: Demonstrating why resilience should be central to U.S. national security strategies, emphasizing its role in preparing for, withstanding, and recovering from crises, whether natural or man-made.
10. Independent Research Skills: Conducting independent research utilizing scholarly literature and case studies, including countries affected by conflict and natural disasters, to deepen understanding of human security and resilience.
This paper will synthesize existing literature, case studies, and recent developments to argue for the importance of resilience in enhancing security and stability, with a particular focus on Myanmar’s conflict and potential lessons from Sri Lanka.
Paper For Above instruction
The concept of resilience has gained significant attention in both academic and policy circles due to its critical role in enhancing human security and promoting stability in the face of adversity. Resilience refers to the capacity of individuals, communities, and nations to absorb shocks, recover from setbacks, and adapt to changing circumstances. Its importance is especially pronounced in regions experiencing conflict, natural disasters, or socio-economic upheavals, such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Puerto Rico.
In examining human resilience, it is essential to understand its multifaceted sources, including psychological traits, social networks, community support systems, and institutional frameworks. Resilient individuals often display traits like optimism, self-efficacy, and perseverance, which empower them to navigate stressors effectively. Communities that foster strong social cohesion, inclusive governance, and access to resources tend to demonstrate greater collective resilience, enabling them to withstand and recover from crises more efficiently (Ungar, 2018).
The overarching significance of resilience aligns with the broader concept of human security, which prioritizes protecting individuals from threats that undermine their ability to live with dignity. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) stresses that resilient systems are integral to achieving sustainable development and peace (UNDP, 1994). For example, in conflict zones, resilient societies often exhibit lower levels of violence and better prospects for post-conflict reconciliation (Masten & Wright, 2010).
Myanmar’s ongoing ethnic conflict exemplifies the challenges faced in building resilience, where deep-seated mistrust, resource competition, and political instability hinder peace efforts. Despite numerous attempts at peace negotiations, the situation remains volatile, contrasting sharply with Sri Lanka’s approach to ending its civil war and fostering national reconciliation. Sri Lanka’s post-conflict resurgence involved extensive reconciliation programs, community-based dialogue, truth commissions, and reintegration efforts that helped rebuild societal trust (Acharya & Bandara, 2017). The question arises: Why has Myanmar not adopted similar measures?
One reason lies in structural issues, including authoritarian governance, persistent ethnic tensions, and limited political will, which impede comprehensive reconciliation. Moreover, external influences and geopolitical interests often complicate peace processes, perpetuating cycles of violence and distrust. While Sri Lanka’s approach notes the importance of inclusive governance and community participation, Myanmar’s political landscape remains fragmented, with power struggles and militarization hindering peace initiatives (Saha & Ganesan, 2019).
Building resilience in Myanmar requires addressing these foundational obstacles, fostering trust among conflicting groups, and creating institutional structures that promote inclusive development. International organizations and NGOs can play a vital role here by supporting local capacity-building, facilitating dialogue, and promoting socio-economic development. For example, in Puerto Rico, the delayed recovery after Hurricane Maria underscored the importance of resilient local infrastructure, community engagement, and self-sufficiency. This experience highlights that resilience must be embedded at multiple levels—individual, community, national, and international—to effectively respond to crises (Betancourt et al., 2018).
Furthermore, environmental security is intricately linked to resilience. Climate change exacerbates natural disasters, resource scarcity, and migration, which can intensify conflicts and destabilize societies. Rising sea levels, hurricanes, and droughts threaten livelihoods, especially in vulnerable regions, amplifying tensions and undermining peace efforts (Cai et al., 2018). Resilience, therefore, becomes a strategic priority for national security, as it enhances the capacity to adapt to environmental pressures and reduce their disruptive impacts.
In conclusion, resilience is a vital component of a comprehensive approach to human security and conflict resolution. Countries like Sri Lanka demonstrate how inclusive reconciliation, community participation, and institutional resilience can foster peace and stability. Myanmar’s complex conflict demands tailored resilience-building strategies that address structural issues, promote trust, and empower local communities. Strengthening resilience across all levels can significantly contribute to peacebuilding, development, and security, both within nations and globally.
References
Acharya, A., & Bandara, G. (2017). Post-conflict reconciliation in Sri Lanka: Challenges and lessons learned. Journal of Peacebuilding & Development, 12(3), 134-148.
Betancourt, T. S., Meyers-Ohki, S. E., Charrow, A., & Humor, D. (2018). Resilience and mental health: Implications for policy and practice. World Psychiatry, 17(2), 251-253.
Cai, R., Sang, W., & Hu, Q. (2018). Climate change and conflict: The linkages and pathways. Environmental Research Letters, 13(5), 055007.
Masten, A. S., & Wright, M. O. (2010). Resilience over the lifespan. Handbook of resilience in children, 117-134.
Saha, D., & Ganesan, S. (2019). Political dynamics and conflict in Myanmar: Obstacles to peace. Asian Journal of Peacebuilding, 7(1), 45-64.
Ungar, M. (2018). Resilience in action: Multisystemic approaches to building capacity. Psychology Press.
UNDP. (1994). Human Development Report 1994. New York: Oxford University Press.