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By treating envi-

In the traditional dilemma, country A feels

influx of U.S. money, but welcome may

threatened by country B and takes measures

quickly turn to resentment if projects come

ronmental prob-

such as an arms buildup to make itself feel

with too many strings attached, hurt eco-

lems around the

more secure. However, country B then feels

nomic growth, or deal with sensitive issues of

globe as a nation-

threatened by the arms buildup in country A

national security. That could easily happen,

and takes its own countermeasures, which

as the case study of the Russian nuclear waste

al security issue,

then make country A insecure again, and so

problem demonstrates.

the United States

on ad infinitum. In the new security environ-

Conceptions of environmental security

ment, however, it is in a country's interests

are, therefore, just as much about conflict as

leaves itself open

deliberately to posit itself (or at least its envi-

they are about cooperation and peace, even

to subtle (and not

ronmental problems) as a threat to the United

under the well-being model of environmen-

so subtle) forms

States, because by doing so it will receive fund-

tal security. The implication of these policies

ing and assistance. This can happen because

is that the goal of a sound environment is

of blackmail and

"security," the nature of security "threats," and

superior to that of maintaining peace.

extortion.

the methods of tackling such "threats" have

Indeed, that is the logic of most conceptions

all been redefined and greatly expanded.

of environmental security, even when it is not

Deliberate environmental modification

always stated explicitly, or even realized, by

has often been used in wartime (the use of

those obsessed with solving the world's envi-

defoliant agents in Vietnam is a classic exam

-

ronmental problems. For the moment, some

ple). However, expansion of the definition of

U.S. agencies are acting as if all environmen-

"security" to include anything that might

tal harm, anywhere in the world, requires

decrease the well-being of Americans makes it

strong American action and are forgetting

easy for another country to use the specter of

the risks and moral issues involved. Yet peace

modification, deliberate or otherwise, as a

is one of the most vital of national interests,

peacetime bargaining chip to secure assis-

and to override it in pursuit of other goals

tance. Foreign aid then will be portrayed to

requires some compelling justification. It is

Congress and the American public as a matter

ironic that pursuing a well-being approach to

of national security, not a humanitarian or

environmental security could lead the United

developmental issue. Access to the American

States to the type of war that the planners for

treasury then becomes far more likely.

the conflict model wish to prevent. It is also

highly ironic that war, which is probably the

greatest cause of environmental destruction,

Setting a Threshold

could be the outcome of policies aimed at

safeguarding the global environment.

If the United States pursues a policy that

The Extortion Scenario: Environment as

takes it down a path toward possible conflict,

a Bargaining Chip

it must at least justify doing so. This princi-

By treating environmental problems

ple should also apply when large amounts of

around the globe as a national security issue,

money are being spent. Yet, in the case of

the United States also leaves itself open to sub-

environmental security, no attempt has been

tle (and not so subtle) forms of blackmail and

made to determine at what point an overseas

extortion. Any country with environmental

environmental problem becomes a threat to

problems can declare--either directly or by cit-

U.S. national security. A sensible security pol-

ing (or exaggerating) the potential for internal

icy should first set a measurable threshold

or regional strife as a result of the problem--

beyond which something constitutes a threat

that it needs urgent assistance from the

and warrants intervention. That is difficult

United States because the problem constitutes

to do with all issues, but especially so with

a threat to U.S. national security. That creates

the environment.

a perversion of the so-called security dilemma.

Consider three examples. In the first,

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