7. The Environment of Security in Africa: A Threat Multiplier

This chapter presents the environment as not limited only to the physical environment. It is argued that the environment of security includes the physical environment, the social environment, the institutional frameworks at the state and international levels and the geopolitical framework of global politics. It is further contended that different conditions of the environment of security (climate change, environmental degradation, global warming, melting glaciers, the anarchical international system, national and international institutional frameworks) have the potential to exacerbate the societal, economic and political issues discussed in Chaps. 3, 4 and 5. In effect, the environment of security is not a primary security issue but acts either as a ‘threat multiplier’ (malign environment) or a ‘threat inhibitor’ (a benign environment). This explores the security environment of Africa to make conclusions on its specific character.