Linking Urban Security and Regional Development: Operationalizing Security-Development Nexus within Regional Development Agencies

Abstract

This paper aims to present a conceptual framework for incorporating urban security concerns into regional development so as to operationalize security-development nexus within Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). The security issues pertinent to urbanization pose severe threats to individuals’ and community’s safety as a whole. Nevertheless, it seems that putting security into regional development agenda has been relatively ignored. Now that we have RDAs to promote development on a regional basis, security can be addressed as a part of regional development. In this study, it is argued that urban security can be embedded into RDA structure. Doing so, urban security can placed within regional development practices as a functional and structural component. In this study, primarily, conceptual linkage between urban security and regional development is demonstrated. Then an Urban Security Ecosystem is defined in order to identify stakeholders of governance. Consequently, incorporating urban security into RDA relating it with Urban Security Ecosystem, it is suggested that security-development nexus can thus be operationalized. This study does not suggest a “one size fits all” model. However, a conceptual framework could be useful to further pertinent discussions and policy implementation.