In this episode of Coffee Break Podcast, host and GDL member Khaldun Al Saadi, speaks to Iranian diplomat Mahmoud Javadi on the current global challenges to human security.

This new addition to the GDL Podcast series was recorded with the fellow GDL Member Mahmoud Javadi and deals with the topic of human security.

Mahmoud Javadi is a AI Governance Researcher at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Postgraduate Researcher at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy. He has previously worked at the Institute for Political and International Studies and the Iranian Expediency Discernment Council’s Center for Strategic Research. He has also collaborated with independent think-tanks in Iran and co-hosts the IRAN-DACH Podcast.

In this episode, Mahmoud tells us about his work routine at the European University Institute in which he is currently focussing on conventional security. As a researcher, he dedicates his efforts to learning but doesn’t view himself as an expert but rather an interested listener. His tip for successful learning is the balance between output and input in form of feedback.

“Human security is greatly under discussed”

The topic that greatly concerns Mahmoud is the topic of human security. This includes threats to individual well-being, safety or prosperity caused by for instance, water shortages, deforestation or heat waves. Thus, the topic of climate refugees comes up naturally in this discussion. Mahmoud emphasis there still lies great potential in institutions like the European Union to tackle the issue of human security, which he states is sadly underutilised due to a lack of commitment, willingness and attention. According to him, conventional security challenges are still viewed as more pressing than the human security aspect.

The episode also explains securitisation, which is the overwhelming control through the government. Mahmoud acknowledges this and tackles the question of how to address concerns for human safety without the fear of securitisation?

To learn about the answers that Mahmoud personally gave to these questions, please make yourself a cup of coffee and listen to the new episode on Spotify!

About the authors:

Khaldun Al Saadi has been a member of the Junge Islam Konferenz (Young Islam Conference), the flagship project of Stiftung Mercator in immigration and integration.

Mahmoud Javadi works as a Researcher for the European University Institute.

Published on June 26, 2023.

Visual credit: Julie August