The phenomenon of human security aims to combine security with human rights and freedoms as a product of the changing security perception of the West after the Cold War. The concept of human security has transformed security from the perception of “only the absence of threat” to a perception in which elements such as “fears and needs” are also taken into account. However, the new circumstance affected by COVID-19 and the measures taken to combat the pandemic have enforced us to experience a period in which human security is eroded, anxiety becomes the dominant emotion, dif􀏐iculties arise in meeting the existing needs as well as the new needs that are dif􀏐icult to meet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the concept of human security has been abandoned and the classical protective-restrictive security approach has been adopted due to the wideness of the concept and its dif􀏐icult nature to de􀏐ine, which has criticised many times. In this process, sources such as the hierarchy of rights, the sociality of responsibility and the limit of freedom have constituted the legitimacy of the restrictive measures that had been taken. These extraordinary conditions, which are deemed appropriate for the limitation of rights and freedoms, are listed as a legitimate reason for the limitation of freedom in many legal texts. Another point that provides the legitimacy of struggle in extraordinary situations such as epidemic is the rarity of such cases. However, the world is faced with a problem that will destroy this source of legitimacy. While the world is changing rapidly, viruses that cause epidemics are not at a 􀏐ixed point. The rapid evolution of viruses and the spread of epidemics indicate the possibility of similar the outbreaks like the COVID-19 pandemic in the near future. For this reason, it will not be suf􀏐icient for concepts such as human security to be damaged in such extraordinary situations and to be amended again in the subsequent normalization processes. This study aims to analyze the human security phenomenon, the erosion that it has experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, its underlying sources of legitimacy and the possible problems to be encountered.

Dünya Sağlık Örgütü'nün 11. Mart 2020 tarihinde 6. Evre pandemi ilanında bulunmuştur. Bu evrede 5. Evredeki durumun aşılması, virüsün 3. Bir ülkeye de sıçraması aşamasıdır. Bu ilan küresel çapta bir pandeminin söz konusu olduğu anlamına gelmektedir. Uluslararası politika açısından salgın dönemi, tarih boyunca uluslararası sistemin işleyişinde etkin olan temel motivasyonların artık işe yaramayacağı yeni bir dönemin de habercisi olmuştur. Devletleri ve devletlerin oluşturduğu organizasyonları yeni duruma uygun davranmak ve yeni modeller üzerinde uzlaşmak gibi bir zorunluluk beklemektedir. Covid-19 pandemisi uluslararası ilişkilerin temel işleyişini değiştirecek ve öncesi dönemden farklı dinamikleri devreye sokacak bir etki yaratmaktadır. Çalışma tarihsel süreçten bugüne temel uluslararası sistem analizlerini referansa koyarak dönüşüm olasılıklarını irdelemeyi hedeflemiştir.

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The multidimensional characteristics of the HSR networks make debated the benefits of them. In this context, the aim of this study is to review of Turkey’s HSR systems from spatial equity perspective within the framework of recent research and developments. The latest secondary data from the official statistics of the Ministries of Development; Environment and Urbanization; Industry and Technology of Turkey has been used for the purpose of the analysis. The research methods included: critical analysis of the source literature, analysis of secondary data (desk-research) and graphic methods (tables and maps), by means of which the results of the study have been presented. The main argument of study is that considering the current geographical location of the HSR network of the country, it creates challenges in terms of spatial equity and deepens the regional polarization. The existing HSR network has facilitated mobility, especially in terms of domestic tourism. However, the usage of the HSR by a limited part of population and restrictions applied due to the COVID-19 pandemic question the amount of returns of the HSR’s costs, which are enough expensive investments in Turkey. On the other hand, increasing inequalities arising from the HSR infrastructures shaped on the basis of factors such as the geographical features of the country, general development level, population and demand density, are tried to be minimized by roadway and airway alternatives.

Introduction. The study analyses the reflection of the infrastructure projects on the Trans-Caspian transport corridor in the media. By combining the roles of transport corridor as a means of regional cooperation and overcoming ethnic issues between the countries, it is aimed at addressing two main questions. The first question would be on the reflection of infrastructure projects on the Trans-Caspian transport corridor in the media in the context of promoting regional cooperation, the second on whether news about infrastructure projects contains any ethnic based messages of discrimination or hostility to exclude any country from such projects. The BTK railway project is used as a case in this paper in this respect. Methods and materials. A conceptual content analysis methodology is applied in this study, which is limited to online media news of three major news agencies of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey within a specific time period beginning from the official inauguration of the BTK until the date of conducting this research – 30 October 2017 – 15 May 2020. Analysis and results. The findings reveal that the news investigated within the context of this research involves positive messages supporting regional cooperation, mutual benefits and common interests that may have an incentive impact on public perceptions. It was also discovered that the news about the BTK railway project does not contain any content otherizing or excludes any country, which may help societies to focus on regional cooperation rather than vulnerable ethnic issues. Considering the difficulty of control of social media, it has been recommended that official news may avoid publishing messages with provocative content. Authors’ contribution. A.N. Uste developed the content of the article and carried out its general scientific editing. U. Sanili Aydin proposed a scheme for research analysis. The authors jointly analyzed the results.