Environmental Security: A Strategy for the Mitigation of Regional Instabilities?
Abstract
Maintaining regional stability has risen in importance in U.S. foreign policy and in some instances to the level of a vital national interest. However, the current role of the United States as the world's sole hyperpower has produced unique challenges as the United States confronts asymmetric threats from terrorist (non-state) organizations. Of special interest to the United States military is the prevention or mitigation of regional instabilities. These instabilities hamper economic prosperity and provide breeding grounds for popular discontent. While regional instabilities alone may not constitute a direct physical threat to the United States, their secondary effects, which include impacts on international trade, access to resources, and support bases for terrorist organizations, have major implications for U.S. national security interests. The unprecedented growth of the world's population, particularly in developing nations, is consuming the basic resources of food and water at an alarming rate, while the spread of epidemic diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria are destroying entire generations. In developing countries, the populations often focus much of their energy fulfilling the basic needs of food and water and when these needs are not met, an internal disruption of the State can result. While these "environmental issues" may not provide the sole reason for a population to take up arms, they can contribute to general discontent and accentuate other contentious matters. This paper presents a definition for "environmental security" and a rationale for why the United States, and especially Unified Geographic Combatant Commands (UGCCs) should engage in environmental issues that conflict with United States' national interests. The major environmental threats facing the world in the 21st Century are presented along with specific examples of the types of environmental issues that could cause conflicts with U.S. national security issues. (73 refs7
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 07, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA420209
Entities
People
- Joe D. Manous Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College