How State-Centric Foci Undermine the Human Security of Stateless Rohingya

Abstract This study explores a shift in governance focus from state security to addressing insecurities within states, particularly through the lens of human fragility. Traditional state-centric approaches often build strong states without adequately safeguarding the most vulnerable populations. The research recalibrates the concept of fragility by asking not “which state is fragile,” but “for whom is the state fragile?” Utilizing documentary research, the study examines the governance responses of Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Malaysia to the Rohingya crisis following the military crackdown in August 2017. The analysis reveals that even stable states can fail to protect vulnerable individuals, highlighting the fragility experienced by stateless populations like the Rohingya, who are often left without basic services or protection from their host countries.