Environmental degradation as a security threat: The challenge for developing countries

Authors

  • Ayhan Akbulut Turkish National Police

Keywords:

Environmental Security, Environmental Threat, Environmental Degradation, Environmental Crime, Environmental Protection

Abstract

The developments after industrial revolution have brought environmental degradation to the stage as a threat to human security in the last few decades. It has become obvious that the shortage of natural resources or negative changes in environmental conditions may lead different forms of conflict between states. Since environmental degradation may directly or indirectly cause a conflict, it will have a significant impact on international security. This problem mostly challenges developing countries on the edge of making a choice between rapid industrialism and environmental conservation. This paper analyzes this challenge by discussing the details of it and offering both national and international level solutions. The zeal for economic growth, enclosure of land and knowledge, and disenfranchisement compose the major challenges for developing countries. There is no easy way to meet those challenges; however, this study offers regional economic integration by cooperation with regional environmental issues, the avoidance of politics leading degradation, dealing with disenfranchisement, environmental education, protection of global commons more seriously, and strict legislation and sanctions against environmental crimes as the steps against environmental threat.

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Author Biography

Ayhan Akbulut, Turkish National Police

Ayhan Akbulut, PhD

 Phd from Rutgers University, Division of Global Affairs,(2010)

 Research interests are international security, terorism, organized crime , political communication, and media  

Currently serving for Turkish National Police Headquarters, specialized in anti terorism, organized crime and drugs

 Publications                :

 -Ekici, B., Williams, P., Akbulut, A., (2011). The PKK and the KDNs: Cooperation, Convergence or Conflict?. in The PKK: Financial Sources, Social and Political Dimensions, ed. Strozier, C., and Frank, J., pg.146-166, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller

-Örs, H., Akbulut, A., (2013).  Bölgesel Bir Uluslararası Polis İşbirliği İnisiyatifi Olarak Avrupa Polis Ofisi(EUROPOL).  Uluslararası Polis İşbirliği ve Türk Polis Teşkilatı, ed. Celik, A., Cetin, H.C., and Örs, H., pg.49-62. Polis Akademisi Yayınları   

Presentations                        :

-Akbulut, A., (2010). In the Name of Democracy: More Violence for Freedom after 9/11, presented in UTSAS 2010

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Published

2014-06-03

How to Cite

Akbulut, A. (2014). Environmental degradation as a security threat: The challenge for developing countries. Journal of Human Sciences, 11(1), 1227–1237. Retrieved from https://j-humansciences.com/ojs/index.php/IJHS/article/view/2894

Issue

Section

Political Science