Environmental Security: Is it a Useful Concept?

Environmental Security: Is it a Useful Concept? PDF Author: Saghir Iqbal
Publisher: Saghir Iqbal
ISBN: 1725532425
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 67

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Book Description
The concept of environmental security was introduced in an attempt to expand this conceptualization of security by suggesting that human-induced environmental degradation and demographic pressures are new emerging security problems at the national and international levels. The argument for an environmental security perspective arose from three key observations: environmental threats can have catastrophic outcomes, traditional security thinking does not prepare society to deal with these threats, and, unlike traditional security issues, environmental threats are not confined by national boundaries. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), states that, “Over the last 60 years, at least 40 percent of all internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources”. In addition, “More than two billion people have been affected by disasters and conflicts since 2000”. Common examples of these new threats are climate change and sea level rise, ozone depletion, deforestation, land degradation; over fishing, fresh water scarcity, and increased spread of infectious diseases.

Environmental Security: Is it a Useful Concept?

Environmental Security: Is it a Useful Concept? PDF Author: Saghir Iqbal
Publisher: Saghir Iqbal
ISBN: 1725532425
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 67

Get Book Here

Book Description
The concept of environmental security was introduced in an attempt to expand this conceptualization of security by suggesting that human-induced environmental degradation and demographic pressures are new emerging security problems at the national and international levels. The argument for an environmental security perspective arose from three key observations: environmental threats can have catastrophic outcomes, traditional security thinking does not prepare society to deal with these threats, and, unlike traditional security issues, environmental threats are not confined by national boundaries. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), states that, “Over the last 60 years, at least 40 percent of all internal conflicts have been linked to the exploitation of natural resources”. In addition, “More than two billion people have been affected by disasters and conflicts since 2000”. Common examples of these new threats are climate change and sea level rise, ozone depletion, deforestation, land degradation; over fishing, fresh water scarcity, and increased spread of infectious diseases.

NL ARMS Netherlands Annual Review of Military Studies 2020

NL ARMS Netherlands Annual Review of Military Studies 2020 PDF Author: Frans Osinga
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9462654190
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 538

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Book Description
This open access volume surveys the state of the field to examine whether a fifth wave of deterrence theory is emerging. Bringing together insights from world-leading experts from three continents, the volume identifies the most pressing strategic challenges, frames theoretical concepts, and describes new strategies. The use and utility of deterrence in today’s strategic environment is a topic of paramount concern to scholars, strategists and policymakers. Ours is a period of considerable strategic turbulence, which in recent years has featured a renewed emphasis on nuclear weapons used in defence postures across different theatres; a dramatic growth in the scale of military cyber capabilities and the frequency with which these are used; and rapid technological progress including the proliferation of long-range strike and unmanned systems. These military-strategic developments occur in a polarized international system, where cooperation between leading powers on arms control regimes is breaking down, states widely make use of hybrid conflict strategies, and the number of internationalized intrastate proxy conflicts has quintupled over the past two decades. Contemporary conflict actors exploit a wider gamut of coercive instruments, which they apply across a wider range of domains. The prevalence of multi-domain coercion across but also beyond traditional dimensions of armed conflict raises an important question: what does effective deterrence look like in the 21st century? Answering that question requires a re-appraisal of key theoretical concepts and dominant strategies of Western and non-Western actors in order to assess how they hold up in today’s world. Air Commodore Professor Dr. Frans Osinga is the Chair of the War Studies Department of the Netherlands Defence Academy and the Special Chair in War Studies at the University Leiden. Dr. Tim Sweijs is the Director of Research at The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies and a Research Fellow at the Faculty of Military Sciences of the Netherlands Defence Academy in Breda.

The Future of NATO

The Future of NATO PDF Author: James M. Goldgeier
Publisher: Council on Foreign Relations
ISBN: 0876094671
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 45

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Book Description
A head of title: Council on Foreign Relations, International Institutions and Global Governance Program.

US Foreign Policy Towards Russia in the Post-Cold War Era

US Foreign Policy Towards Russia in the Post-Cold War Era PDF Author: David Parker
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429840047
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 260

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Book Description
This book discusses how the ideas, expectations and mind-sets that formed within different US foreign policy making institutions during the Cold War have continued to influence US foreign policy making vis-à-vis Russia in the post-Cold War era, with detrimental consequences for US–Russia relations. It analyses what these ideas, expectations and mind-sets are, explores how they have influenced US foreign policy towards Russia as ideational legacies, including the ideas that Russia is untrustworthy, has to be contained and that in some aspects the relationship is necessarily adversarial, and outlines the consequences for US–Russian relations. It considers these ideational legacies in depth in relation to NATO enlargement, democracy promotion, and arms control and sets the subject in its wider context where other factors, such as increasingly assertive Russian foreign policy, impact on the relationship. It concludes by demonstrating how tension and mistrust have continued to grow during the Trump administration and considers the future for US–Russian relations.

The Transatlantic Relationship : Problems and Prospects

The Transatlantic Relationship : Problems and Prospects PDF Author: Sabina A. M. Auger
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Europe
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description


Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO's intervention 1998-1999

Violence against Kosovar Albanians, NATO's intervention 1998-1999 PDF Author: Laurence Binet
Publisher: Médecins Sans Frontières
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 298

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Book Description
The ‘Violence against Kosovar Albanians NATO’s intervention 1998-1999’ case study describes the constraints and dilemmas facing Médecins Sans Frontières teams that witnessed a process of terror and expulsion which they described as the ‘deportation’ of Kosovar Albanians by Serb forces. It also described MSF’s reaction to NATO aerial bombings and the control exercised over the refugee camps by this party to the conflict. Should MSF denounce the violence being committed against Kosovars at the risk of being excluded from access to these people and of encouraging the NATO intervention? Should MSF take a stance on the NATO intervention? What sort of relationship should be established with countries that were committed either militarily (such as NATO members) or politically (Greece) in the conflict and their civil societies? Should MSF raise the alarm about the absence of the UNHCR in the management of the refugee camps, at the risk of reinforcing this marginalization? Is it justifiable to carry out an assessment mission that sacrifices the principle of operational independence, by invoking an interpretation of the principle of impartiality that implies a responsibility to assist victims on both sides of a conflict?

National Security, Military Power & the Role of Force in International Relations

National Security, Military Power & the Role of Force in International Relations PDF Author: Army Library (U.S.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : International relations
Languages : en
Pages : 188

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Book Description


Foreign Relations of the United States

Foreign Relations of the United States PDF Author: United States. Department of State
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : United States
Languages : en
Pages : 1112

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Book Description


NATO and Article 5

NATO and Article 5 PDF Author: John R. Deni
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
ISBN: 153810704X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 181

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Book Description
For much of the last 25 years, NATO has focused on crisis managementin places such as Kosovo and Afghanistan,resulting in major changes to alliance strategy, resourcing,force structure, and training. Re-embracing collective defense —which lies at the heart of the Treaty of Washington’s Article 5 commitment— is no easy feat, and not something NATO can do through rhetoric and official pronouncements. Nonetheless,this shift is vitally necessary if the alliance is to remain the bulwark of Western defense and security. Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and its invasion of Ukraine have fundamentally upended the security environment in Europe, thrusting NATO into the spotlight as the primary collective defense tool most European states rely upon to ensure their security. Collective defense is one of the alliance’s threecore missions, along with crisis management and cooperative security. It is defined in Article 5, the most well-known and arguably most important part of NATO’s founding treaty, which states: “The Parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.” Although all three missions are vital to the interests of NATO’s many member states, collective defense has become first among equals once again. However,three very significant hurdles stand in the way of the alliance and its member states as they attempt to re-embrace collective defense. These loosely correspond to an ends-waysmeans construct. First is the alliance's strategy toward Russia. Is Russia an adversary,a partner,neither,or both? How should strategy and policies change to place the alliance and its members on more solid ground when it comes to managing Russia? Second are the ongoing disputes over resourcing and burden-sharing. In recent years, it has become commonplace for American leaders to publicly berate European allies in an effort to garner more contributions to the common defense. How might the alliance better measure and more equitably share security burdens? Third is the alliance’s readiness to fulfill its objectives. Many allies have announced or are implementing increases in defense spending. However, governments of European NATO member states are strongly incentivized by domestic politics to favor acquisition of military hardware or spending on personnel salaries and benefits,usually at the expense of readiness. The result is that NATO military forces risk quickly becoming hollow in a way that is often underappreciated, which will prevent the alliance from fulfilling the collective defense promise inherent in Article 5. The book examines all such questions to assess NATO’s return to collective defense and offer a roadmap for overcoming those challenges in both the short and long-term.

Civil-Military Cooperation in International Interventions

Civil-Military Cooperation in International Interventions PDF Author: Agata Mazurkiewicz
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1000567532
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 177

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Book Description
This book investigates the challenges related to civil-military cooperation (CIMIC) and offers a new perspective by examining the social role of NATO CIMIC soldiers. The intertwining of the civilian and military spheres has become a significant part of the contemporary security environment. However, the relationship between the military and civilian actors is often troubled, filled with misunderstandings and rivalry. In their duty to provide a link between the military and diverse civilian environment, soldiers involved in CIMIC are exposed to varied, often-conflicted expectations that make up their social role and put stress on their performance and the effectiveness of CIMIC. By drawing on analysis of NATO CIMIC documents and a series of interviews with CIMIC soldiers, the author is able to, first, identify the elements of the CIMIC role and, second, diagnose the inherent role conflict and describe methods of dealing with it. Looking at civil-military cooperation through this lens reveals new layers of challenges that impact its effectiveness and a better way to understand the complexity of civil-military interaction. This book will be of much interest to students of military studies, military sociology, peacekeeping, security studies, and international relations, as well as military practitioners.