The Pentagon's
of Understanding, threats to environmental
ods. Although the last three (environmental
quality are understood as affecting "broad
modification, "green" military, and environ-
vision of environ-
national economic and security interests, as
mental factors in deployment) fit more easily
mental security
well as the health and well-being of individ-
within the current military role, the first
includes enhancing
ual citizens." EPA administrator Carol
two--the conflict-stability approach and the
Browner believes that "protection of public
health-well-being approach--diverge from
international
health and the environment have become an
traditional security policy. This is especially
security through
important part of our national security."1 5
so with the health-well-being model as it
Yet, as Alan Hecht of the same organization
essentially redefines the role of the military
military-to-military
has claimed, environmental security "encom
-
and the meaning of security. The conflict
contact programs
passes unsustainable economic development
model is also a departure from tradition,
dealing with the
that has the potential to create national,
despite the seeming relationship between
regional or global instabilities that threaten
conflict and what one would usually associ-
environment.
U.S. interests."16 Former secretary of state
ate with the defensive role of the military. It is
Warren Christopher extolled the virtue of
new in that it examines environmental fac-
both the conflict-stability and the health-
tors that could either contribute to or cause a
prosperity approaches in a speech in April
decline in regional stability. The study of mil-
1996.1 7 Secretary of State Madeleine Albright
itary strategy, and international relations in
has done the same. In a speech on Earth Day
general, usually focuses on the political
1998 she proclaimed that "the threats we face
aspects of conflict and stability--the interna-
from environmental harm are not as spectac-
tional system, regime types, and power.
ular as those of a terrorist's bomb or missile.
Although politics undoubtedly plays a part
But we know that the health of our families
in the environmental conflict scenario--war
will be affected by the health of the global
is in itself an inherently political act--the
environment. . . . And the security of our
study of, and preparation for, environmental
nation will be affected by whether we are able
conflict assumes that environmental factors
to prevent conflicts from arising over scarce
can be singled out from all the other vari-
resources."1 8 Briefing the Senate Select
ables. It also assumes the importance of envi-
Committee on Intelligence in 1996,
ronmental factors in leading to conflict,
thendirector of central intelligence John
something that is not always evident.
Deutch declared that "a deteriorating envi-
The Conflict Approach to
ronment can not only affect the political and
Environmental Security
economic stability of nations, it can also pose
global threats to the well-being of
The conflict model is best expressed by
mankind."1 9In addition, he saw environmen-
Thomas Homer-Dixon at the University of
tal monitoring as essential for troop protec-
Toronto, although there is a significant body
of other academic research on this subject.2 1
tion in wartime. The Pentagon's stated envi-
ronmental security mission focuses mainly
Homer-Dixon's extensive studies on the
on such issues as the environmental impact
relationship between acute environmental
of defense activities and base cleanup, which
change and conflict have tested three
amount to what might be called environ-
hypotheses: (a) environmental scarcity causes
mentally friendly security provision.
simple-scarcity conflicts between states (so-
Nonetheless, the Pentagon's vision of envi-
called resource wars); (b) environmental
ronmental security also includes enhancing
scarcity causes large population movement,
international security through military-to-
which in turn causes group-identity con-
flicts;2 2 and (c) environmental scarcity simul-
military contact programs dealing with the
environment.2 0
taneously increases economic deprivation and
disrupts key social institutions, which in turn
As the examples show, the linkages point
causes "deprivation" conflicts such as civil
to different goals and call for different meth-
5