Summary

Research Report: Addresses the strategic and security effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Description

Author: Alan Dupont, Director, Asia-Pacific Security Program, ANU Strategic and Defence Studies Centre

This paper is one in a series of four background papers used to inform
discussions at the HIV/AIDS and Development in the Asia Pacific Ministerial
Conference held in October 2001. This paper addresses the strategic and
security effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. It analyses existing research
and argues that the virus threatens the national security interests of
afflicted states and the region's collective security interests.
HIV/AIDS is currently killing more people than armed conflict and may soon be
the largest human pandemic ever. It is threatening the political, economic and
strategic interests of the state as well as human security. Dupont also
discusses the impact on security forces as well as the linkages between
transnational crime and the spread of the disease including people smuggling,
drug running and sexual exploitation.

Full report [PDF 328KB]