Environmental Security Flashcards
Deudney 1990
“It is analytically misleading to think of environmental degradation as a national security threat”
(Because the traditional violence-focus of national security has nothing to do with environmental issues)
Threat multiplier
Investigation of the connection between climate change and conflict
“Climate change effects interact with and have the potential to exacerbate pre-existing threats” (Goodman and Baudu, 2023)
How should IR deal with the end of the world?
The Anthropocene: A (contested) geological age marking humanity’s impact on Earth; raises existential questions for (IR) (Simangan, 2023)
Existential anxieties
- Physical anxiety: Fear of human extinction and planetary destruction
- Moral anxiety: Concerns about planetary stewardship and humanity’s responsibility
- Reimagine IR theories: move beyond state-centric and human-centric models.
- Adopt post-humanist perspectives: consider non-human agency in global politics
- Promote justice and equity: we must acknowledge historical injustices and global inequalities.
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Key arguments
- Relations between environmental security and the question of security
- Conceptual framework for addressing environmental security
- Intersections of environmental security with war, terrorism, crime and social security
- Multiple meanings and practices of environmental security
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Argument - Relations between environmental security and the question of security
- The Anthropocene introduces a need to re-conceptualise security
- Historically, security in IR was about physical security against external threats
- Environmental security should be seen as an extension of this but rooted in the existential threats posed by climate change
- Environmental threats are now framed as existential, requiring emergency responses similar to military threats
- This transition highlights the need for a deeper understanding of societal and ecological interdependencies
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Argument - Conceptual Framework for Addressing Environmental Security
- Non-/Post-Humanist Existentialism: Existentialism emphasises being, choice, and anxiety - particularly as these relate to future uncertainties for humanity in a precarious ecological climate
- Polycentric Governance: Recognises the interconnectedness of global and local actions
- Rather than rely solely on state-centric responses, a polycentric framework acknowledges the differentiated responsibilities of all actors - from states to individuals - in managing environmental security
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Argument - Intersections of Environmental Security with War, Terrorism, Crime, and Societal Security
- War and Resource Scarcity: environmental degradation can exacerbate conflicts over declining resources, leading to wars driven by scarcity
- Terrorism and Crime:- Some groups may resort to violence or illicit activities in response to despair or as a means of survival
- Societal security must also be considered, as environmental issues can undermine the fabric of communities
- The impacts of climate change can lead to social disintegration and an increase in violence as identities and traditional structures erode
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Argument - Multiple Meanings and Practices of Environmental Security
Existential Threats:
- Existential threats to humanity from ecological degradation
- The fear of extinction and the moral responsibility of stewardship create such anxieties
Transition from Insecurity to Security:
- Adressing environmental security opens pathways toward reimagining future possibilities
- The challenges posed by the Anthropocene can serve as catalysts for systemic change
Rethinking Identity and the Anthropos:
- Recognising non-human agencies and acknowledging the interconnectedness of all forms of life in shaping a sustainable future
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
“The environment, previously considered by…”
“…realists as belonging to ‘low politics’, can be securitised once it is recognised as a threat to the well-being of humanity”
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
“Realist and national security approaches to…”
“…securitising the environment address the symptoms rather than the causes”
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Strengths
- Interconnectedness of security issues
- Existentialism as a framework for understanding anxiety
- Critique of traditional security paradigms
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Strength - Interconnectedness of Security Issues
- By recognising that environmental degradation can exacerbate conflicts over resources, it highlights a complex web of causal relationships
- This perspective is crucial in CSI as it challenges traditional state-centric views of security
- Understanding that environmental security is intertwined with social justice, human rights, and political stability allows for a more comprehensive approach to addressing contemporary security issues
- For example, as natural resources dwindle due to climate change, conflicts may arise not only between states but also within communities, leading to societal insecurity.
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Strength - Existentialism as a Framework for Understanding Anxiety
- This framework argues that human insecurities and existential fears prompt societal behaviours that affect security strategies
- In CSI, the acknowledgment of existential anxiety allows for a deeper examination of how fear drives policy-making and security practices
- It suggests that understanding the emotional and psychological dimensions of security - such as the fear of extinction or loss of identity - can lead to more effective and humane approaches to environmental security
- This insight can inform strategies that prioritise resilience and adaptation over militarisation and securitisation
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Strength - Critique of Traditional Security Paradigms
- The document critiques conventional security frameworks that often focus on deterministic and linear models, advocating for a more holistic understanding that incorporates the uncertainties of the Anthropocene
- It highlights the limitations of current practices that treat environmental issues merely as external threats to be managed
- This critique is essential for CSI as it calls for an evolution in the understanding of security that includes non-human actors and recognises the agency of ecological systems
- By doing so, it encourages the development of policies that address root causes rather than symptoms
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Weaknesses
- Overemphasis on existentialism
- Insufficient engagement with policy implications
- Neglect of global power dynamics and geopolitics
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Weakness - Overemphasis on Existentialism
- The reliance on existentialist thought to frame anxieties can lead to an overemphasis on fears without adequately addressing systemic structures of power and inequality
- This focus raises concerns over the universality of the experiences and conditions described
- This may overlook how these manifest differently across diverse populations, particularly marginalised communities who may face existential threats due to historical injustices, socio-economic disparities, and environmental degradation
- By not addressing the intersectionality of vulnerabilities, the argument risks creating a narrative that homogenises the experience
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Weakness - Insufficient Engagement with Policy Implications
- The critiques of traditional security paradigms suggest a need for radical change, but does not provide concrete policy recommendations to operationalise this shift towards more environmentally integrated security practices
- Without practical solutions or actionable steps, the argument may be perceived as largely theoretical or idealistic.
‘How should IR deal with the “end of the world”?’ - Dahlia Simangan
Weakness - Neglect of Global Power Dynamics and Geopolitics
- While it critiques conventional security paradigms, it may not sufficiently account for how competition among states, economic interests, and imperial histories complicate attempts to address environmental security
- Ignoring these can lead to an overly optimistic view of the potential for collaborative global responses to environmental challenges
- It can also underestimate the entrenchment of power structures that often prioritise national security over environmental practices
- This may hinder the ability to formulate effective responses to issues like climate change and resource scarcity, as they are often deeply intertwined with international relations, trade, and conflict politics
“Third World Quarterly” - Leon Sealey-Huggins
Key arguments
- Relations between environmental security and the question of security
- The best conceptual framework to address environmental security
- Intersections of environmental security with war, terrorism, crime and societal security
- Multiple meanings and practices of this new form of security
“Third World Quarterly” - Leon Sealey-Huggins
Argument - Relation between Environmental Security and the Question of Security
- Environmental security goes beyond ecological concerns and intersects with social and political stability
- Climate change represents an existential threat which not only poses risks to the natural environment but also threatens the fabric of societies, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Caribbean
- As climate change exacerbates issues like natural disasters, food insecurity, and displacement, it poses threats that are similar to traditional security concerns
- The security of biologically and socially vulnerable Caribbean populations is directly tied to how climate change impacts their economies - especially in sectors like tourism and agriculture, which are critical for survival
“Third World Quarterly” - Leon Sealey-Huggins
Argument - The Best Conceptual Framework to Address Environmental Security
- Sealey-Huggins advocates for a conceptual framework that incorporates historical legacies of power and exploitation into environmental discussions
- This implies rejecting technocratic solutions that ignore the societal implications of those solutions, aiming for an analysis that addresses the inequities entrenched in the political and economic systems
- By grounding environmental discussions in the realities of colonial and imperial histories, the paper argues for a multifaceted approach, seeking to redistribute resources and power as a means of fostering genuine environmental security
“Third World Quarterly” - Leon Sealey-Huggins
Argument - Intersections of Environmental Security with War, Terrorism, Crime, and Societal Security
- Environmental security cannot be viewed in isolation - climate change exacerbates vulnerabilities that can lead to instability and conflict
- EG, competition over scarce resources like water and arable land can lead to social unrest or even violence, similar to issues of national security
“Third World Quarterly” - Leon Sealey-Huggins
Argument - Multiple Meanings and Practices of this New Form of Security
- The meaning of security in relation to the environment is evolving; it is increasingly understood as a collective concern rather than solely a state-centric or military one
- The current administration of climate policy through the UNFCCC continues to perpetuate imperialist structures, failing to represent the interests of those from the Caribbean adequately
- This underscores a critical need to challenge existing practices and rethink what effective environmental security looks like
“Third World Quarterly” - Leon Sealey-Huggins
“The threats posed by climate change are a consequence of…”
“…unequal, colonial, economic and social power relations”
