Florida International University

Department of International Relations

Spring 2006

INR 5352

Environment and Security

Instructor: Professor Shlomi Dinar

Phone: 305-919-4839

E-mail: dinars@fiu.edu

Office: Academic 1, 323A at BBC

Class Time: Wednesdays, 9:30am-12:15pm

Office Hours: BBC, T and Th, 11:00am-noon; or by appointment

Course Overview and Objectives

Since the end of the Cold War non-traditional security issues have become an important area of concern in academic and policy arenas. Often juxtaposed with traditional security issues such as deterrence, war and nuclear proliferation, non-traditional security issues can also directly or indirectly affect the security of a specific country or region; though they are not necessarily associated with militarized notions.

Environmental security has become an important branch of study for the non-traditional school of security studies. Environmental degradation and resource scarcity may lead to disputes between states or likewise lead to migration of people, so called ‘environmental refugees,’ that may strain the economies of receiving countries or regions within a country. In general, environmental concerns may lead to conflict and instability between and within states.

This course will survey the links between environment and security and discuss several issues of import to demonstrate the relationship. The course will delve deeper into the theoretical debate and consider the term ‘environmental security,’ scrutinizing non-traditionalist claims.

Just as environmental degradation may lead to conflict between states it can also lead to cooperation or at least provide states with the impetus to cooperate. The course will, therefore, consider remedies to environmental problems and expose students to the study of international environmental law and international environmental regimes and agreements. This study in ‘environmental cooperation’ is also important for considering the security relevance of environmental issues.

Course Requirements

Final Exam 65%

Presentation 25%

Class Participation and Short Report 10%

Final Exam

The final will be a comprehensive take home exam. You are expected to consult the class readings and notes, analyze concepts, criticize or support contentions and provide specific examples. Exams are to be typed. The exam will be distributed in class and is due on April 26^th, by NOON, in the INR-GEO Department.

I DO NOT MAKE ANY EXCEPTIONS FOR LATE EXAMS. IF YOU ANTICIPATE A PROBLEM YOU SHOULD SEE ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

You are expected to perform in line with the university’s standards of student conduct, especially on the issue of academic honesty. “The use of literature, notes, aids, or assistance from other sources should be clearly identified with respect to all course assignments and examinations.” Any evidence of academic dishonesty or plagiarism will be reported to university administration, and the student will get an F.

If you are using ideas or quotes from the course readings in writing your exam, please footnote the source. In addition, the exams are not to be a cooperative assignment. It is quite simple to detect when students have collaborated on an exam.

Group Presentation

Each student will be responsible for presenting a selection of the assigned readings for a specific topic on a specific day. The goal is to present the readings in a cohesive fashion drawing themes together (that is, with past sessions and the current session). The student must arrive prepared to lead discussion and to take questions. Students are welcome to use special props, such as power point. Presentations are to last for about 45 minutes.

Class Participation

This being a graduate course, great emphasis will be placed on the readings and discussion of the material. All students are to come to class prepared having done all of the readings (regardless if they are presenting or not). I will be expecting students to ask challenging questions and be able to discuss the readings in an intelligent manner. In addition, those students not presenting on the respective day shall prepare a one-to-two page report emphasizing the important points from the readings they believe should be noted and scrutinized. This is to be turned in at the end of class.

Reading Assignments

A class reader, which contains the course reading assignments, is available at the Copy Center, which is located in the Graham Center just past the Barnes & Noble Book Store. One book does need to be purchased, however. It is: Richard Benedict, Ozone Diplomacy: New Directions in Safeguarding the Planet, (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1991). One copy is on reserve but you can find this book on Amazon.com.

This syllabus is provisional, and therefore, a change in its content is solely under the discretion of the instructor. In case of a change, students will be notified in advance.

Environment and Security
Wed, Jan 11		Introduction: New (Non-traditional) Security Issues
		Robert Kaplan, “The Coming Anarchy,” The Atlantic Monthly, V 273, N 2, (February 1994).
Wed, Jan 18		Debate Basics: Traditional vs. Non-traditional Security Issues
		Steven Walt, “The Renaissance of Security Studies,” International Studies Quarterly, V 35, (1991), pgs. 211-239.
P		Arnold Wolfers, "'National Security' as an Ambiguous Symbol," Political Science Quarterly, V 67, N 4, (December 1952), pgs. 481-502.
		Emma Rothschild, “What is Security?” Daedalus, V 24, N 3, pgs. 53-98.
P		Richard Ullman "Redefining Security" International Security, V 8, N1, (Summer 1983), pgs. 129-153.
		J.J. Romm, Defining National Security: The Non-Military Aspects, (New York: Council on Foreign Relations, 1993), pgs. 1-8 and 81-90.
		Roland Paris, “Human Security: Paradigm Shift or Hot Air?” International Security, V 26, N 2, (Fall 2002), pgs. 87-102.
P		Benjamin Miller, “The Concept of Security: Should it be Redefined?” The Journal of Strategic Studies V 24, N 2, (2001), pgs. 1-29 only.
Wed, Jan 25		Why Environmental Security? (1^st Generation)
		Richard Matthew, “Introduction: Mapping Contested Grounds,” in Daniel Deudney and Richard Matthew (Eds.) Contested Grounds: Security and Conflict in the New Environmental Politics, (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999), pgs. 1-15.
P		Lester Brown, Redefining National Security, Worldwatch Paper, N 14, Washington DC, 1977, pgs. 5-46.
		Westing, A.H. Global Resources and International Conflict: Environmental Factors in Strategic Policy and Action (Oxford: Oxford University Press), pgs. 3-20 and 205-210 (Appendix 2).
P		Michael Klare, The New Geography of Conflict, Foreign Affairs, V 80, N 3, 2001, pgs. 49-61.
P		Norman, Meyers, Environmental Security, Foreign Policy, N74, Spring, pgs. 23-41.
		Jessica Tuchman Mathews, “Redefining Security,” Foreign Affairs, V 68, N 2 (Spring 1989), pgs. 162-177.
Wed, Feb 1		Environment, Violence and Conflict: The Connection Made (2^nd Generation)
		Thomas Homer-Dixon, Environment, Scarcity, and Violence, (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1999), pgs. 47-72, 73-106, 133-176.
		Nazli Choucri (ed.) Global Accord: Environmental Challenges and International Responses Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993; pgs. 67-132.
P		Colin Kahl, “Population Growth, Environmental Degradation, and State-Sponsored Violence: The Case of Kenya, 1991-1993,” International Security, V 23, N 2, (Fall 1998), pgs. 80-119.
P		Valerie Percival and T. Homer-Dixon, “Environmental Scarcity and Violent Conflict: The Case of South Africa,” Journal of Peace Research, V 35, N 3, Special Issue on Environmental Conflict (May, 1998), pp. 279-298
		Daniel Esty, “Pivotal States and the Environment,” in Robert Chase, Emily Hill, and Paul Kennedy (Eds.) The Pivotal States: A New Framework for U.S. Policy in the Developing World, (New York: Norton, 1999), pgs. 290-314.
P		Foster, Gregory, China’s Environmental Threat: Crafting a Strategic Response, Comparative Strategy, (2000), pg. 123-143.
Wed, Feb 8		Environment, Violence and Conflict: The Connection Criticized
		Ken Conca, "In the Name of Sustainability: Peace Studies and Environmental Discourse" in Jyrki Kakonen (Ed.), Green Security or Militarized Environment, (Aldershot: Dartmouth, 1994), pgs. 7-24.
P		Gleditsch, N.P. Armed Conflict and the Environment: A Critique of the Literature, Journal of Peace Research, V 35, N 3, 1998, pgs. 381-400.
P		Marc Levy, “Is the Environment a National Security Issue,” International Security, V 20, N 2, (Fall 1995), pgs. 35-62.
P		T. Homer-Dixon and M. Levy, “Correspondence: Environment and Security”, International Security, V 20, N 3, (Winter 1995/1996), pgs. 189-198.
P		L. Brock “Security Through Defending the Environment: An Illusion?” in E. Boulding (Ed.) New Agendas for Peace Research: Conflict and Security Reexamined, (Boulder: Lynne Rienner, 1992), pgs. 79-102.
		Jon Barnett, “Destabilizing the Environment-Conflict Thesis” Review of International Studies, V 26, N 2 (2000), pgs. 271-288.
		Daniel Deudney, “Environmental Security: A Critique,” in Daniel Deudney and Richard Matthew (Eds.) Contested Grounds: Security and Conflict in the New Environmental Politics, (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999), pgs. 187-223.
		Thorsell, James, 1990, Through Hot and Cold Wars, Parks Endure, Natural History, V 99, N 6, June, pgs. 56-58.
Wed, Feb 15		Environment, Violence and Conflict: The Connection Made and Broadened (3^rd Generation) (Those presenting should be able to read statistical results)
		Ted Robert Gurr, “On the Political Consequences of Scarcity and Economic Decline,” International Studies Quarterly, V 29, N 1, 1985, pgs. 51-75.
		Wenche Hauge and Tanja Ellingsen, “Beyond Environmental Scarcity: Causal Pathways to Conflict,” Journal of Peace Research, V 35, N 3, 1998, pgs. 299-317.
P			John W. Maxwell and Rafael Reuveny, “Resource Scarcity and Conflict in Developing Countries,” Journal of Peace Research, V 37, N 3, 2000, pgs. 301-322.
P			Congleton, R. “Political Institutions and Pollution Control,” The Review of Economics and Statistics, V 74, N 3, (August 1992), pgs. 412-421.
P			S. Barrett and K. Graddy, “Freedom, Growth, and the Environment,” Environment and Development Economics, N 5, 2000, pgs. 433-456.
P			Gleditsch, N.P. “Environmental Conflict and the Democratic Peace,” in Gleditsch, N.P. (Ed.) Conflict and the Environment, (Dordecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997), pgs 91-106.
			Paul Collier, “Doing Well Out of War: An Economic Perspective,” and Indra de Soysa, “The Resource Course: Are Civil Wars Driven by Rapacity or Paucity?” in Mats Berdal and David Malone (Eds.) Greed and Grievance: Economic Agendas in Civil Wars, (Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2000), pgs. 91-135.
			M.L. Ross "How do Natural Resources Influence Civil War? Evidence from Thirteen Cases." International Organization, V 58, (2004), pgs 35-67.
Wed, Feb 22			Second Order Resources and Ingenuity: The Optimistic View
			“Answer to Malthus? Julian Simon Interviewed by William Buckley,” Population and Development Review, V 8, N 1, 1982, pgs. 205-218.
P			Boserup, Ester, The Impact of Scarcity and Plenty on Development, Journal of Interdisciplinary History, V 14, N 2, 1983, pgs. 383-407.
			Nazli Choucri (ed.) Global Accord: Environmental Challenges and International Responses Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 1993, pgs. 255-279.
P			L. Ohlsson, Environment, Scarcity and Conflict: A Study in Malthusian concerns, Dissertation, Department of Peace and Development research; University of Goteborg, 1999, Chapter 5, pgs. 1-28.
P			Thomas Homer-Dixon, The Ingenuity Gap: Can Poor Countries Adapt to Resource Scarcity?, Population and Development Review, V 21, N 3, 1995, pgs, 587-612.
Wed, Mar 1			Sources of Environment and Security: Demographic Changes, Population Increases and Poverty, Land Degradation, and Climate Change, Health
			Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Rajul Pandya-Lorch, “Poverty, Food Security, and the Environment,” International Food Policy Research Institute, 2020 Vision, Brief 29, (1995), pgs. 1-4.
			Alex De Serbinin, "World Population Growth and U.S. Security," Environmental Change and Security Project Report, N 1, (Spring 1995), pgs. 24-39.
			Jack Goldstone, “Population and Pivotal States,” in Robert Chase, Emily Hill, and Paul Kennedy (Eds.) The Pivotal States: A New Framework for U.S. Policy in the Developing World, (New York: Norton, 1999), pgs. 247-269.
P	Astri Suhrke, “Environmental Degradation, Migration, and the Potential for Violent Conflict,” in Gleditsch, N.P. (Ed.) Conflict and the Environment, (Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997), pgs. 255-271.
P	Shin-wha Lee, “In Limbo: Environmental Refugees in the Third World,” in Gleditsch, N.P. (Ed.) Conflict and the Environment, (Boston: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1997), pgs.273-291.
	Brown, N. Climate, Ecology, and International Security,” Survival V 3, N 6, 1989, pgs. 519-532.
	Lester Brown and Jodi Jacobson, “The Future of Urbanization: Facing the Ecological and Economic Constraints,” Worldwatch Paper, N 77, May 1987, pgs. 5-46.
P	Richard Moorehead, “Land Tenure and Environmental Conflict: The Case of the Inland Niger Delta,” in Jyrki Kakonen (Ed.) Perspectives on Environmental Conflict and International Relations, (London and New York: Pinter Publishers, 1992), pgs. 96-115
P	Mohamed Salih, “Environmental Conflicts in African Arid Lands: Cases from the Sudan and Nigeria,” in Jyrki Kakonen (Ed.) Perspectives on Environmental Conflict and International Relations, (London and New York: Pinter Publishers, 1992), pgs. 116-135.