No. 369
April 20, 2000
Green Wars
Making Environmental Degradation a National
Security Issue Puts Peace and Security at Risk
by Paul Benjamin
Executive Summary
fad concepts as many observers expected, "environ-
Since the end of the Cold War, a fundamental
mental security" has become an important compo-
shift in national security policy has taken place
nent of current national security policy. Various
in the United States. No longer restricting itself
agencies--ranging from the Department of
to such issues as military alliances, the strategic
Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the
behavior of other great powers, and nuclear
Department of State to newcomers on the security
strike capabilities, security policy now tackles
scene such as the Environmental Protection
environmental degradation, poverty, infectious
Agency--are involved. Eager to justify their budgets
diseases, drug use, and other problems.
in a more peaceful, prosperous world, they have
Moreover, it increasingly posits them as threats
embarked on various projects, both at home and
to the national security of the United States.
abroad, aimed at countering the perceived threat
This shift in thinking has taken place subtly
from environmental degradation.
and largely out of the realm of public debate.
Unfortunately, little thought has been given
Although environmental issues are rapidly mov-
to the consequences of those developments.
ing up on the public agenda, the public is not
Although the practical activities carried out in
generally aware that they are treated specifically
the name of environmental security are still fair-
as security threats. Environmental degradation
ly limited, various dangers are already apparent.
is the most popular of the new causes embraced
Among them is the potential for militarizing
by policymakers and government agencies, and
environmental issues and infringing on civil lib-
its treatment as a security threat dates back to
erties. Equally worrisome, a security policy that
the immediate postCold War period when a
attempts to tackle all the world's environmental
debate began about what to do with U.S. military
problems risks pushing the United States in the
resources that were no longer needed after the
direction of further conflict and greater inter-
demise of the Soviet Union.
vention in the affairs of other nations.
Instead of being relegated to the recycling bin of
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Paul Benjamin, an independent foreign policy analyst based in Washington, D.C., holds a master's degree in
international relations from Central European University in Budapest.