Human beings have always migrated in search of better opportunities and better life. Migrations are also well tested strategies followed by various communities to adapt to various calamities and disasters. Most of civilizations (e.g. ancient Egyptian and Indus Valley civilizations) have come up as a result of people migrating to river valleys. It was only with the emergence of modern nation- states system, particularly after the treaty of Westphalia, that new notion of legality and illegality got attached to the process of migration, boundaries became rigid and exclusive, and the flows of people became an issue of ‘Others’ and ‘Othering’. In short, the history of mobility is much longer than the history of Westphalian territoriality and borders.
In the present era climate change is becoming the defining factor in human migration. The current dominant geopolitical narratives and framings of climate change tend to focus on the impacts of climate change on potential drivers of conflict, such as population movements, border disputes, and access to food, water, energy and other scarce resources. It is against the backdrop of a whirlpool of highly imaginative and alarmist geographies of a ‘catastrophic’ climate change that a new and highly contested concept of ‘climate refugee’ has emerged. Those who are forced to leave their native land by the’ global’ climate change are now described as climate migrants for want of a better term. Millions of people around the globe are said to be at risk of displacement due to climate change; being forced to leave their homelands, temporarily or permanently. It is believed that nine out of every ten disasters are somehow related to climate change.
It has become an accepted fact among the international community that climate change is going to result in large number of displacement. The Inter Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has minced no words in warning that “The impacts of climate change on Asia will place additional stress on socioeconomic and physical systems... A further demographic response will come about through the risk of extreme events on human settlements. If the incidence and magnitudes of events such as droughts and coastal floods increase, there could be large-scale demographic responses—for example, through migration” (IPCC, Working Group 2, 2007).
Table of Contents
Preface
Chapter 1- Revisiting Securitization In The Context Of Climate Change
Chapter 2- Framing ‘Climate Change’: Science, Knowledge and Power
Chapter 3- Climate Change, Migrations and Security: Conceptualizations and Contestations
Chapter 4- Conclusions: Towards Desecuritization of Climate Migration?
Research Objective and Core Themes
This dissertation examines the evolving geopolitical discourse surrounding climate change and human mobility, specifically focusing on how the securitization of migration—shifting the topic from "low politics" to "high politics" and national security concerns—impacts policy and the rights of vulnerable populations. The work critically evaluates how different national and international actors construct the narrative of "climate refugees" and assesses the implications of this framing for future diplomacy and human rights, with deep-dive case studies on Bangladesh, the United States, and Australia.
- The theoretical intersection of securitization theory (Copenhagen School) and environmental migration.
- The influence of scientific reports (IPCC, Stern Review, UNDP) in shaping climate narratives.
- Comparative analysis of how Bangladesh, the U.S., and Australia approach climate-induced migration.
- The moral and ethical dimensions of "climate refugee" status and the need for desecuritization.
- The role of media, think tanks, and state actors in constructing existential threats.
Excerpt from the Book
Securitization of Climate change: Divergent Sites, Similar Discourses?
In fast multiplying discourses of major ‘global’ risks and threats to humanity as a whole Climate change looms large. It is seen as security threat to nation states, communities and individuals. The rising sea level is already posing great threat to coastal zones and communities and small islands. Whereas in the Arctic region the melting snow cover is becoming less predictable and hunting becoming more difficult for the indigenous peoples. Low lying countries such as Bangladesh are becoming increasingly vulnerable to flooding.
Climate change came up as an issue of security threat for the first time in America. It was pointed out by the 1996 United States ‘National Security Strategy’ (NSS), that there might be armed competition between nations for “dwindling reserves of uncontaminated air” (Clinton, 1996:26). In the context of the present debate on climate change projects as a national security concern one of the most cited countries happens to be Bangladesh where 5.5 million refugees are feared to be posing a direct threat to the legitimacy and internal harmony of the state and society. It is further anticipated that climate change will adversely affect the economic well being and livelihoods, degrade human health, undermine military capability and state wealth and further intensify insecurity between people (Barnett, 2001).
Summary of Chapters
Preface: This chapter establishes the historical context of migration as an adaptation strategy and introduces the critical shift toward securitizing climate change in contemporary geopolitical narratives.
Chapter 1- Revisiting Securitization In The Context Of Climate Change: The chapter critiques traditional concepts of security, analyzing the transition from state-centric "national security" models to broader "human security" frameworks within the context of global warming.
Chapter 2- Framing ‘Climate Change’: Science, Knowledge and Power: This section explores how scientific findings are produced and interpreted, focusing on how institutions like the IPCC frame climate change and how these frames are utilized by various actors to promote specific agendas.
Chapter 3- Climate Change, Migrations and Security: Conceptualizations and Contestations: This chapter provides a comparative study of Bangladesh, the United States, and Australia, examining how each state constructs climate-induced migration as a security issue or a threat to national stability.
Chapter 4- Conclusions: Towards Desecuritization of Climate Migration?: The concluding chapter summarizes the findings on the securitization of migration and argues for the urgent necessity of "desecuritizing" the debate, moving it back into the sphere of diplomacy, ethics, and human rights.
Keywords
Climate Change, Securitization, Migration, National Security, Human Security, Copenhagen School, Climate Refugees, Bangladesh, United States, Australia, IPCC, Human Rights, Geopolitics, Environmental Degradation, Desecuritization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this dissertation?
The work focuses on how climate change is increasingly being framed as an existential security threat, leading to the "securitization" of climate-induced migration by state and non-state actors.
What theoretical framework does the author utilize?
The author primarily relies on the "securitization theory" developed by the Copenhagen School of International Relations to explain how issues are moved from normal politics to the domain of high-level security emergencies.
What are the central case studies analyzed?
The dissertation features a comparative study of three countries: Bangladesh (as a highly vulnerable state), the United States, and Australia (as major destinations for potential climate migrants).
How does the author define a "climate migrant"?
The author highlights the ambiguity of the term and explores various contested categories like "climate refugees," "environmental migrants," and "climate exiles," emphasizing the lack of a standardized legal definition.
What is the author's argument regarding scientific consensus?
The author argues that while the IPCC is the dominant voice, its reports have faced criticism for projecting an overly simplistic "consensus" that may be used to serve specific political agendas rather than reflecting the complexities of climate science.
What is the goal of "desecuritization" mentioned in the final chapter?
The goal is to shift the debate on climate migration away from military and border-security frameworks and back toward the spheres of diplomacy, human rights, and sustainable development.
How does the media play a role in this process?
The author explains that media outlets frequently act as "securitizing actors" by portraying climate migrants as security threats, thereby reinforcing popular fear and political demand for restrictive border policies.
Does the author believe that climate change will inevitably cause interstate conflict?
The author notes that while many reports predict such conflicts, there is no clear consensus among researchers, and argues that securitizing this issue can be a self-fulfilling prophecy rather than a reflection of reality.
- Quote paper
- Sonali Narang (Author), 2011, Climate Change and Securitization of Migration, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/374151
