Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The securitization of water discourse: theoretical foundations, research gaps and objectives of the special issue

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The water literature is saturated with securitization jargon. Coloring a discourse that could have been political, technical or economic in securitization rhetoric is especially prominent in the literature and policy on the securitization of transboundary water. However, despite the tendency to address water as a securitized resource, it is often unclear what the term “water security” means. Also, unclear are the contextual variables that trigger the use of such discourse; the way in which securitization is institutionalized; and its impacts on the decision-making process. This paper aims to systematically review the missing gaps around the securitization enigma. It also provides a rudimentary typology for potential mechanisms to securitize the water discourse and their potential impact on decision-making processes. Among the mechanisms identified are structural ones such as setting buffer zones around water infrastructure; institutional ones such as the exclusion of civil society from decision-making processes; and linguistic ones such as the use of framing and narratives for justifying military involvements. The securitization of the discourse is not likely to be distributed equally in time and space and is likely to be triggered by disasters, resource scarcity and power asymmetry. Some institutional venues are likely to be more receptive to such rhetoric.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Virtual water is considered Virtual silently and invisibly what enables some politicians and public officials to avoid discussing politically sensitive water scarcity issues. This is why I consider Virtual water as salient rhetoric as opposed to the alarmist rhetoric. For more on the virtues of Virtual water (see Allan and Wichelns 2007).

Abbreviations

IWRM:

Integrated water resources management

IBWC:

International boundary and water commission

References

  • Allan, J. A. (2001). The Middle East water question: Hydropolitics and the global economy (p. 220). London: I. B. Tauris. ISBN 1-86064-813-4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allan, A & Wichelns, D. (2007). Virtual water: invisible, silent, and vital. In Encyclopedia of Water Science (pp. 1–4). New York: Taylor and Francis, Published online: 12 Dec 2007.

  • Aradau, C. (2004). Security and the democratic scene. Journal of International Relations and Development, 7(4), 388–413.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aradau, C. (2008). Rethinking trafficking in women: Politics out of security. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, D. A. (1997). The concept of security. Review of International Studies, 23, 5–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balzacq, T. (2005). The three faces of securitization: Political agency, audience and context. European Journal of International Relations, 11(2), 171–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Birkmann, P. B., Jaeger, J., Pelling, M., Setiadi, N., Garschagen, M., Fernando, N., & Kropp, J. (2010). Extreme events and disasters: A window of opportunity for change? Analysis of organizational, institutional and political changes, formal and informal responses after mega-disasters. Natural Hazards, 55(3), 637–655.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buzan, B., & Wæver, O. (2003). Regions and power: The structure of international security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Buzan, B., Wæver, O., & de Wilde, J. (1998). Security: A new framework for analysis. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carson, R. (1962). Silent spring. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conca, K. (1994). In the name of sustainability: Peace studies and environmental discourse. Peace and Change, 19(2), 91–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conca, K., Carius, A., & Dabelko, G. D. (2005). Building peace through environmental cooperation. In The Worldwatch Institute (Ed.), State of the World 2005: Redefining global security (pp. 144–157). New York: W.W. Norton.

  • Conca, K., & Dabelko, G. D. (2002). Environmental peacemaking. Washington: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook, C., & Bakker, K. (2012). Water security: Debating an emerging paradigm. Global Environmental Change, 22(1), 94–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corporation, C. N. A. (2007). National Security and the threat of climate change. Alexandria, VA: The CNA Corporation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coskun, B. B. (2009). Cooperation over water resources as a tool for desecuritisation: The Israeli—Palestinian environmental NGOs as desecuritising actor. European Journal of Economics and Political Studies, 2, 97–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dabelko, G. (2009). Avoid hyperbole, oversimplification when climate and security meet. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, August, 24. http://thebulletin.org/avoid-hyperbole-oversimplification-when-climate-and-security-meet.

  • Deconinck, S. (2009). Development: The geopolitics of water scarcity in the Nile River Basin. Royal High Institute for Defence Center for Security and Defence Studies. Focus Paper #13.

  • Deudney, D. (1990). The case against linking environmental degradation and national security. Journal of International Studies, 19, 461–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dryzek, J. S. (1997). The politics of the earth. Environmental discourses. New York: Oxford University Press Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckersley, R. (2009). Environment Security, Climate Change and Globalising Terrorism. In D. Grenfeld & P. James (Eds.), Rethinking insecurity, war and violence: Beyond savage globalization? (pp. 85–97). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elhance, A. (1999). Hydropolitics in the Third World: Conflict and Cooperation in International River Basins. Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feitelson, E. (2012). The Water Security Implications of Water Securitization presented at the Water Security, Risk and Society Conference, Oxford. 15–17 April, 2012.

  • Fischhendler, I., & Katz, D. (2012). The use of “security” jargon in sustainable development discourse: Evidence from UN commission on sustainable development. International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, 13, 321–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fischhendler, I., & Nathan, D. (2014). In the name of energy security: The struggle over the exportation of Israeli natural gas. Energy Policy, 70(2014), 152–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, R. (2007). Towards a consequentialist evaluation of security: Bringing together the Copenhagen and the Welsh Schools of security studies. Review of International Studies, 33, 327–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, R. (2008). The environmental security debate and its significance for climate change. The International Spectator, 43(3), 51–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, R. (2010). Security and the environment: Securitization theory and US environmental security policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Galli, F. (2008). The Legal and Political Implications of the Securitisation of Counter-Terrorism Measures across the Mediterranean. EuroMesco Paper #71. September 2008.

  • Gleick, P. (2006). Water and terrorism. Water Policy, 8, 481–503.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gorg, C. (2003). Regulation der Naturverhältnisse. Zu einer kritischen Regulation der ökologischen Krise.Westfälisches Dampfboot, Münster.

  • Græger, N. (1996). Environmental security? Journal of Peace Research, 33(1), 109–116.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hajer, M., & Versteeg, W. (2005). A decade of discourse analysis of environmental politics: Achievements, challenges, perspectives. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 7(3), 175–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hale, S. (2010). The new politics of climate change: Why We are failing and how we can succeed. Environmental Politics, 19(2), 255–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartman, B. (1998). Population, environment and security: A new trinity. Environment and Urbanization, 10(2), 113–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Homer-Dixon, T. (1999). Environment, scarcity and violence. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iran-Iraq Treaty. 1979 . Treaty concerning the state frontier and neighborly relations between Iran and Iraq signed between the Imperial Majesty the Shahinshah of Iran, and the President of the Republic of Iraq. http://www.ucdp.uu.se/gpdatabase/peace/Iran-Iraq%2019750613a.pdf.

  • Israel- Jordan Treaty. 1994. Treaty of Peace Between the State of Israel and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. October 26, 1994. https://www.knesset.gov.il/process/docs/peace-jordan_eng.htm.

  • Ihlen, Ø. (2009). Business and climate change: The climate response of the world’s 30 largest corporations. Environmental Communication, 3(2), 244–262.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, D., & Fischhendler, I. (2011). Spatial and temporal dynamics of linkage strategies in Arab-Israeli water negotiations. Political Geography, 30, 13–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kauffman, C. M. (2013). Framing strategies in transnational campaigns for watershed management reform. In Paper presented at the 54th convention of the International Studies Association, San Francisco, CA, April 3–6, 2013.

  • Lakoff, G. (2010). Why it matters how we frame the environment. Environmental Communication, 4(1), 70–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lankford, B., Bakker, K., Zeitoun, M., & Conway, D. (2013). Water security principles, perspectives and practices (p. 376). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, M. (1995). Is the environment a national security issue? International Security, 20(2), 35–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liftin, K. T. (1999). Constructing environmental security and ecological interdependence. Global Governance, 5, 359–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, S. (2004). From conflict to cooperation in the Nile Basin. Zurich, Switzerland: Center for Security Studies, ETH Zurich.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mekong Agreement. (1995). Agreement on the cooperation for the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin. http://www.mrcmekong.org/assets/Publications/agreements/95-agreement.pdf.

  • Matthew, R. (2012). Climate change, security and development, presented at a workshop on Environmental Security, School of Oriental and African Studies, 26 October, 2012.

  • Merdes, C. (2012). Presentation Reflection on the Bonn conference during a workshop on Environmental Security at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London, 26 Oct 2012.

  • Myers, N. (1989). Environment and Security. Foreign Policy, 74, 23–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nestle, M. (2013). Food safety and food security: A matter of public health. In E. Carroll, et al. (Eds.), Health policy: Crisis and reform (pp. 125–130). Massachusetts: Johns and Bartlett Learning.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicol, A., van Steenbergen, F., Sunman, H., Turton, A. R., Slaymaker, T., Allan, J. A., et al. (2001). Transboundary water management as an international public good. Stockholm: Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelling, M. & Dill, K. (2006). Natural disasters as catalysts of political action. Chatham house. ISP/NSC Briefing Paper 06/01, pp. 4–6.

  • Redclift, M. (2001). Environmental security and the recombinant human: Sustainability in the twenty-first century. Environmental Values, 10, 289–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Risbey, J. S. (2007). The new climate discourse: Alarmist or alarming? Global Environmental Change, 18, 26–37.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roe, P. (2004). Securitisation and minority rights: Conditions of desecuritization. Security Dialogue, 35(3), 279–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roe, P. (2012). Is securitization a “negative” concept? Revisiting the normative debate over normal versus extraordinary politics. Security Dialogue, 43, 249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russill, C., & Nyssa, Z. (2009). The tipping point trend in climate change communication. Global Environmental Change, 19, 336–344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sadoff, C. W., & Grey, D. (2005). Cooperation on international rivers. A continuum for securing and sharing benefits. Water International, 30(4), 420–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salter, M. B. (2008). Securitization and desecuritization: a dramaturgical analysis of the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority. Journal of International Relations and Development, 11, 321–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sanchez, R. (1993). Public participation and the IBWC: Challenges and options. Natural Resources Journal, 33, 283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmitt, C. (1985). Political theology: Four chapters on the concept of sovereignty. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulz, M. (1995). Turkey, Syria and Iraq: A hydropolitical security complex. In L. Ohlsson (Ed.), Hydropolitics: Conflicts over water as a development constraint (pp. 84–117). London: Zed Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, P., & Randall, D. (2003). An abrupt climate change scenario and its Implications for United States National Security. Pasadena, CA: California Institute of Technology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shmueli, D. (2008). Framing in geographical analysis of environmental conflicts: Theory, methodology and three case studies. Geoforum, 39(6), 2048–2061.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sjöstedt, R. (2008). Exploring the construction of threats: The securitization of HIV/AIDS in Russia. Security Dialogue, 39(1), 7–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sjöstedt, R. (2010). Health issues and securitization HIV/AIDS as a US National Security threat. In T. Balzacq (Ed.), Securitization theory: How security problems emerge and dissolve (pp. 150–169). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stetter, S., Herschinger, E., Teichler, T., & Albert, M. (2011). Conflicts about water: Securitizations in a global context. Cooperation and Conflict, 46, 441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tarlock, D., & Wouters, P. (2009). Reframing the water security dialogue. Water Law, 20, 53–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tennberg, M. (1995). Risky business: Defining the concept of environmental security. Cooperation and Conflict, 30(3), 239–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turkey-Bulgaria Agreement. (1997). Agreement between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Bulgaria on the deliniatation of the boundary in the mouth area of the Mutludere/Rezovska River and delamination of the Maritime areas between the two states in the Black Sea.

  • Turton, A. (2003). The hydropolitical dynamics of cooperation in Southern Africa: A strategic perspective on institutional development in international river basins. In: A. R. Turton, P. Ashton & T. E. Cloete (Eds.), Transboundary rivers, sovereignty and development: Hydropolitical drivers in the Okavango River Basin (pp. 31–63). Pretoria & Geneva: AWIRU & Green.

  • Turton, A. (2005). Desecuritization as a Foundation for Benefit-Sharing: Lessons from the Okavango River Basin, presented to the Mekong River Commission Forum, Chiang Rai Thailand. 29 November 2005.

  • Ullman, R. H. (1983). Redefining security. International Security, 8(1), 129–153.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wæver, O. (1995). Securitization and desecuritization. In R. Lipschutz (Ed.), On security (pp. 46–86). New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, M. C. (2003). Words, images, enemies: Securitization and international politics. International Studies Quarterly, 47(4), 511–531.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zeitoun, M. (2012). Power and water in the Middle East. The hidden politics of the Palestinian-Israel water conflict. London: I. B. Tauris and Co Ltd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zeitoun, M., Lankford, B., Bakker, K., & Conway, D. (2013). Introduction: A battle of ideas for water security. In B. Lankford, K. Bakker, M. Zeitoun, & D. Conway (Eds.), Water security principles, perspectives and practices (pp. 1–11). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

    Itay Fischhendler

Authors
  1. Itay Fischhendler
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Itay Fischhendler.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Fischhendler, I. The securitization of water discourse: theoretical foundations, research gaps and objectives of the special issue. Int Environ Agreements 15, 245–255 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-015-9277-6

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10784-015-9277-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation