Most post-conflict societies continue to deal with the aftermath of the conflict after it had ended but addressing these consequences often leads only to establishing negative peace, i.e. the absence of violence. As the consequences of conflict are mostly borne by the population, addressing their broadly understood security needs becomes key to establishing positive peace, i.e. a state enabling progress in society, reestablishment of relationships and trust. Since the concept of human security centers around individuals, their security becomes the goal of all security efforts. One of the consequences hindering post-conflict reconstruction efforts is contamination with mines and explosive remnants of war. Hence, this Master's thesis seeks to research the impact of the concept of human security on donor countries’ decisions to support mine action activities in post-conflict countries. The analysis is framed within social constructivism, which takes into account actors’ interests and identities and thereby allowing for an analysis of how the concept of (in)security is perceived by the actors and how it influences their behaviour. Based on the analysis of the cases of the United States of America and Canada and their political and financial support for mine action, the Master's thesis shows that the Ottawa process has paved the way for states to internalise shared interests and their understanding of the importance of addressing the mine issue. It has thereby also paved the way for successful institutionalisation of mine action norms. Still, the concept of human security has in the meantime almost disappeared from international discussions and its principles are more subjected to state interests than to the broader principles of the concept of human security.
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