Environmental and Demographic Factors in IR

1. Environmental and Demographic Factors in IR PO 325: International Politics

2. The Environment in IR • We have seen that economic development is the primary concern for many states in the international system • However, the actions of both developed and developing countries generates externalities that can harm global environmental conditions • Several scientists have claimed that, if countries are not careful, the environment will be utterly destroyed

3. The Decline of the Global Environment • In their quest to develop, states have grievously polluted several environmental systems • Pollution • Atmospheric pollution (acid rain) • Water pollution (industry, sewage, fertilizers) • Toxic and nuclear wastes and accidents (Chernobyl) • Destruction of Ecosystems • Endangerment of animal life (evolutionary interference) • Ruination of rain forests through development and of oceans through pollution (oxygen production)

4. The Diminution of Natural Resources • In their quest to develop, states have vastly depleted natural resources • Energy Depletion • Overconsumption of petroleum resources (exhaustion by end of 21st Century) • Mineral Depletion and Land Erosion • Social displacement • Diminution of arable land • Potable Water • Overuse results in shortages, problems for fisheries

5. Conservation Regimes • In a concerted effort to conserve resources and the environment, several international regimes have been established • Pollution: Kyoto Protocol (FF emissions) • Environmental Conservation: (UNEP, International Whaling Commission) • Some limited successes, but such programs are normally characterized by failure. Why?

6. Why is Conservation Difficult? The Tragedy of the Commons • British sheep-grazing example • Problem of common goods – if resource is shared and volume of production is key, there exists an incentive to over-extract, thereby depleting common resource • In other words, short-term relative gains interests overshadow long-term absolute gains concerns

7. The Tragedy of the Commons Illustrated: Kyoto • Proposed in 1997 to reduce fossil fuel emissions • Advantage to highly populated nations (emissions levels much lower per capita) • However, China and India are developing nations – free ride “loophole” • US refused to sign • Loophole allows development of economic competitors while US is hamstrung • Allows potential political competitors to get stronger via development while US stagnates (security externalities)

8. Avoiding the Tragedy Dangerously: Eliminating the “Commons” • The problems associated with depletion of shared resources leads states to seek ownership • This raises conflicts of interest between states, and can result in armed conflict over finite resources (Examples; Middle East water, Spratly Islands)

9. Demography and IR • World population is at its highest level and continues to grow, placing further stress on resources • Certain policies have been implemented to control population. However, each is bound in controversy • Birth control education • State-imposed family planning (China)