Do you think climate change represents the most pressing security challenge of the 21st century? If so, should its resolution be approached as a matter of (inter)national security?

In this course, we will look at what advantages and disadvantages the securitization of the environment contains. On several current examples, we will show the influence of the state of the environment on security, and even on the emergence of conflicts. Together, we will try to come up with possible solutions to individual problems and outline their possible impacts. During the course, we will discuss a lot, read short texts, and work with both thought maps and geographic maps. We will look at the issue from an interdisciplinary perspective combining elements of political science and ecology with a dash of sociology. Specifically, we will look together at:

1. Securitization of the environment in general
2. The transition to clean energy (and its security impacts)
– cobalt and lithium mining, forced labor, disputes between the DRC and Rwanda
3. Access to clean water (and its possible weaponization)
– disputes between Egypt and Ethiopia/Israel and Palestine
4. Biodiversity protection (and how it can be key to conflict prevention)
– national “peace” parks
5. Post-war reconstruction (and how/if it can be done sustainably)

We will then utilize our knowledge during the last day, when we will play a wargame, a strategic game focused on environmental security.

Do you want to look at exactly these topics during Discover and find out how political science views questions of security and the environment? Then I would be very happy to see you in my course! It is intended for everyone, regardless of previous knowledge.