Name ____________________________________ Date ___________________ Period ______
Environment & Security Issues
What is environmental scarcity?
Environmental scarcity refers to a situation in a specific area where natural resources are not available
to a significant portion of the population. This can occur when population growth depletes the pool
of available natural resources or when environmental damage wipes out a large chunk of the
resources. The existence of environmental scarcity in an area often leads to a wide divide between the
rich members of a society who are available to control the diminishing amount of resources and the
poor who are severely lacking. In such cases, the entire nation or state can begin to break down
through economic decline and civil unrest.
Homer-Dixon and Deudney
Thomas Homer-Dixon and Daniel Deudney are two important contributors to the debate over
whether environmental scarcity does indeed create security problems. They represent the two
extreme poles of thought: Homer-Dixon argues that environmental scarcities are a very important
cause of conflict, while Deudney argues that environmental scarcity should not be seen as a national
security issue.
Homer-Dixon Argument
Basic Argument:
Environmental problems, especially resources scarcity, cause violent social conflicts and wars. Such
conflicts will become more common and disruptive especially in developing countries, as natural
resources become scarcer.
Supporting Arguments:
Three trends are making renewable resources scarcer:
1. The quality and quantity of renewable resources is decreasing due to unsustainable
consumption.
2. Population growth increases the demand for renewable resources.
3. Unequal resource distribution means that even where sufficient resources are available, those
who need the resources most may not receive them.
These trends, especially when they act in combination, will create conflicts within and among
countries.
Deudney Argument
Basic Argument:
It is a mistake to link environmental degradation with national security. Our well-being depends on
preventing environmental degradation, but such degradation is not a threat to national security.
Supporting Arguments:
1. The traditional focus of national security—protecting against organized violence—has little in
common with environmental problems or solutions.
2. National security is the concern of individual countries and relies on an “us vs. them” mentality,
while environmental problems require global cooperation. Defining environmental problems as
national security threats makes it less likely that countries will work together to solve
environmental problems.
3. Environmental degradation is unlikely to cause interstate or civil wars; other factors are the
main causes of such wars.
TASK:
1. Read your assigned case study and take notes on the chart on the next page. Include
important details and information. Your chart should be pretty full (bullet points are fine).
2. When your entire group is finished with their assigned case study, get together and share what
you have learned. Each person must get a chance to speak and tell the group about their case
study while the group members fill out their own charts.
3. Prepare to discuss your answers with the class.
C: Deforestation in Haiti
B: The Anglo-Icelandic “Cod
Wars”
A: The Aral Sea
Case
Study
Describe where this
is taking place.
What’s the conflict?
What factors led to
the conflict?
If environmental
scarcity did not exist,
how might this case
have been different?
F: The Jordan River
E: The Ganges River
D: El Salvador-Honduras War of
1969 (the “Soccer War”)
Case
Study
Describe where this
is taking place.
What is the conflict?
What factors led to
the conflict?
If environmental
scarcity did not exist,
how might this case
have been different?
Directions: On the map below, color in the location of the places discussed in the case studies and label them with the name of the
case study.