Securitization Of Environment In The United States, 1991-2015

Starting from 1991 when "environmental security" was formally incorporated into the American National Security Strategy, the meaning of environmental security and the measures taken on safeguarding it have changed many times. However, in spite of the substantial work on the definition of environmental security, the concrete linkage between environment and security as well as its implications, few have touched the question as to how the securitization of environment has evolved in American national security agenda.This paper is an effort to make up this tiny gap in the existing literature and then try to explain the underlying reasons for its evolution. After a textual analysis and comparative study of fifteen National Security Strategy reports, bills on environmental security introduced in Congress, Annual Reports to the President and the Congress by the Department of Defense and so forth, it is found that the perception of environmental security and the action taken to safeguard environmental security have experienced ups and downs from 1991 to 2015.In the time of Bush Sr., environmental security was only an element of economic security with no targeted measures taken. When it came to the time of Clinton's Administration, environmental security was singled out, connected also with stability of America's strategically important regions and the well being of American citizens. During the Administration of Bush Jr. when terrorism was the main concern, environment was no longer treated as an acute threat to American national security. Then in Barack Obama's presidency, environment was once again analyzed as an integral element of national security with more specified measures and policies and the focus also became more specific, narrowed down to climate security. It is then found that while there has been no comprehensive environmental security strategy established in the United States, the environmental security policies have gradually matured and become more specified.Also, it is found that many factors have contributed to the different environmental security policies in the United States. Those are:the overall context of international system, self identification of the United States, perception of environmental security, domestic political mechanism, the role of the President and objective environmental threat.