Lecture 2 Flashcards
Anthropocene
o You can’t separate humans from environment, we have done so many altering things to the environment.
Areas of concern
o Earth in decay; carbon emissions; acidic oceans; ozone layer depletion; pollution; threats to biodiversity; climate change.
o Levels of consumption of natural energy resources.
o Global population increases likely to further exacerbate trends.
ecological security
integrity of natural systems; climate security key component.
Environmental security
risks from environmental change, resource management, conservation techniques and pollution prevention.
Human security
provide for essential needs of vulnerable people.
o A child who didn’t die, a disease that didn’t spread, a job that wasn’t cut, it isn’t concerned with weapons, it is a concern with dignity and human life.
Origins human security
Four developments
Economic growth no longer main indicator for development (human development as empowerment).
Civil wars perceived to be on the rise.
Globalization spreads transnational dangers like terrorism or pandemics.
Post cold war, emphasis on human rights, humanitarian intervention.
UNDP’s human development report 1994
Universal, interdependent, preventative, people centered.
7 components; economic, food, health, environmental, personal, community and political security.
Freedom from fear and freedom from want.
State security isn’t equal to security of citizens.
Individuals as referent objects, but also security actors.
Critiques human security
Lacks conceptual precision. “Everyone is for it, but few people have a clear idea of what it means.”
Securitization of poverty, ill health and poor education etc. “In the vast majority of cases, securitization won’t lead to any significant improvement in people’s lives.”
State keeps central role in providing human security. “Viewed from human security perspective, states are more often part of the problem rather than source of solution.”
From prevention to intervention. “Responsibility to protect (R2P), risks over-emphasizing military means and prioritizes an top down, statist and interventionist approach to security.”
environmental change as driver of security (1)
Environment as a development issue (UN world commission 1987). It says, “if consumption levels of industrialized north constitute global threat.” The idea of sustainable development.
Environmental change as driver of insecurity (2)
Environment poses security threat to global north. Environmental degradation, resource scarcity in global south. Refugee migration; erosion of nation states; empowerment of private armies; security firms; international drug cartels.
Environmental change as driver of security (3)
Conflicts over resources. Struggles over resources along interethnic lines have already begun on a global scale. Resource wars are “interstate conflicts that revolve, to a significant degree, over the pursuit or possession of critical materials.”
How securitization works
Issue is portrayed as posing an existential threat to survival of a referent object. Once declared a security issue, exceptional measures can be used to deal with it.
Components of speech acts that achieve securitization
Relevant audience must be addressed and convinced. Securitizing actor must be in position of authority. Issue must trigger connotations of threat and danger.
Arguments in favor of treating environmental change as a security issue
o Environmental change is a severe direct threat to lives and livelihoods of already vulnerable populations.
o Even populations that escape direct effects of climate change are forced to deal with its indirect consequences in todays interconnected world.
o Governments pay more attention to security issues and allocate more resources to addressing them.
Arguments against environmental change as a security issue
o Environmental change is a government challenge, not a security challenge. Development policy more adequate than militarization. Territorial conquest to ensure resources is too costly.
o Environmental change might require global responses, not national ones. Prioritizing national security concerns prevents international cooperation.
o Global markets allow access to sufficient resources. Technological innovation has mitigated challenges from resource scarcity.
o Different concept of security needed. Not protection of status quo, but facilitation of ecologically inspired innovation (including change of economy focused on fossil fuels and growth).
