The Securitisation of Climate Change and the Governmentalisation of Security

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Frontmatter

2. Chapter 1. Introduction and Theoretical Framework

   Franziskus von Lucke

   Abstract

   The first part of this chapter discusses how the security implications of climate change have become an issue in academic and political debates and how this relates to the main puzzle of the book, that is, to understand multiple securitisations and their political effects. The second part introduces a novel theoretical approach to securitisation. Based on Foucault’s ‘power triangle’, the chapter develops three ideal-typical climate security discourses that guide the empirical analysis. The chapter argues that a power-centred approach can better grasp the manifold forms of securitisation in contemporary political debates because it helps to understand the continuous transformation of security, sheds light on the constitution of security subjects and objects, and contextualises the bidirectional political and the normative consequences of linking non-traditional issues to security.

3. Chapter 2. United States: Climate Change, National Security and the Climatisation of the Defence Sector

   Franziskus von Lucke

   Abstract

   This chapter explores the securitisation of climate change in the US. It finds that while all three climate security discourses played a role, from the mid-2000s onwards climate change was predominately constructed as an immediate threat to US national security and linked to the exercise of sovereign power. Apart from raising attention and helping to bridge political divides, this led to a ‘climatisation’ of the security and defence sector by incorporating climate threats into key policies and practices. It also helped to constitute defence institutions as legitimate and influential actors in the ‘fight’ against climate change. Besides some positive effects on US climate policy, this mainly focused the debate on the symptoms of climate change, hence neglecting long-term, multilateral solutions to tackle its root causes.

4. Chapter 3. Germany: Climate Change, Human Security and Southern Populations

   Franziskus von Lucke

   Abstract

   This chapter looks at the securitisation of climate change in Germany. In contrast to the US, the disciplinary and governmental discourses and the argumentation of climate change as a risk to the human security of poor populations in the Global South prevailed. This helped to legitimise progressive climate policies, coin concepts such as ‘climate diplomacy’ and ‘climate foreign policy’, and had a significant impact on German development policy. Moreover, it legitimised a different set of actors mainly consisting of research institutions, civil society actors and development organisations. This form of securitisation avoided a one-dimensional and short-sighted focus on the symptoms of climate change. Nonetheless, it contributed to a problematic juxtaposition of a climate resilient and powerful Global North, with an ‘unruly’, unprepared and victimised Global South.

5. Chapter 4. Mexico: Analysing Securitisation in the Global South

   Franziskus von Lucke

   Abstract

   Looking at Mexico, this chapter finds a less widespread securitisation than in the other cases, not least due to a politicisation of climate change as an issue of global justice and economic opportunity. Nonetheless, climate security discourses were not inconsequential and gained in importance from the mid-2000s. While no discourse dominated, disciplinary and governmental representations and the argumentation of climate change as an overarching risk to Mexico’s population were most common. Apart from influencing climate policies, this helped to integrate climate change into civil protection and insurance schemes and avoided a short-sighted focus on symptoms. In general, this chapter highlights peculiarities of securitisation in the Global South, for example, a lack of domestic securitising actors, a scepticism towards ‘Western’ representations and the role of ‘counter-securitisations’.

6. Chapter 5. Revisiting the Securitisation of Climate Change and the Governmentalisation of Security

   Franziskus von Lucke

   Abstract

   This concluding chapter revisits the empirical findings against the backdrop of the theoretical approach. Part I explores the governmentalisation of security and how different climate security discourses have materialised in the case studies. It finds that while the sovereign discourse often generates attention and ‘climatises’ the security sector, the disciplinary discourse is better equipped to legitimise climate and development policies, whereas the governmental discourse incites (de-politicising) risk management approaches. Part II looks at the (powerful) political consequences of securitisation such as agenda setting, politicisation, the constitution of subject positions, objects of governance, as well as ‘security truths’, and concrete policies and practices. Finally, Part III discusses the normative implications of securitising climate change including the role of de-securitisation and alternative ways to generate political attention.

7. Backmatter