The Armed Forces and human security in the 21st century: Higher education, development, and defense in the Dominican Republic

This study examines the role of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic in strengthening human security, considering the transformations of the 21st-century world order. Using an analytical-comparative approach, it analyzes the institutional contributions of the National Defense University (UNADE), the university teaching hospitals, and the General Directorate of Vocational Schools (DIGEV) to the country’s professional, health, and educational development. Based on institutional statistical data from 2000-2024, the impact of training in security and defense, the labor market insertion of graduates, the production of medical specialists, and the territorial expansion of technical education are assessed. The results show that professionalization in strategic areas, civil-military integration, and the expansion of educational coverage strengthen essential dimensions of human security, such as economic, health, education, and institutional security. This study concludes that, in the current international context, the Dominican Armed Forces have expanded their traditional territorial defense function, consolidating themselves as a strategic actor for state resilience and social stability. This study provides an empirical perspective that reinterprets the role of higher military education as a public policy instrument aimed at well-being and democratic governance, highlighting the importance of specialized training and institutional integration in building a more robust state capable of responding to multidimensional threats.

Keywords:
Human security; World order; Multidimensional security; Defense education; State resilience; National development; Civil-military integration