Solidarity and Human Insecurity: Interpreting and Extending the HDRO’s 2022 Special Report on Human Security

The 2022 UNDP Special Report on human security marks an overdue return to this focus in Human Development Reports work. It adds solidarity to the established headline strategies for human security, namely protection and empowerment. While it does not theorise solidarity far, nor connect much to relevant literatures, nor explore implications in detail, it provides an opening of doors. We comment first on the Report’s general significance. It presents itself as a rethinking of human security; it reflects also a rethinking of human development in the Anthropocene and a re-articulation of the core rationale of the United Nations system. Second, we consider how the report presents solidarity: as a required commitment to others, globally; as implication of interconnectedness; and as a required response to uncertainty. Third, we note that the report is only a beginning; it is not yet connected to generations of solidarity thinking and practice nor to present-day streams. Fourthly, we review policy implications proposed in the Report and suggest areas for next-stage attention.