Environmental Security

Catalog description

Students will learn how environmental issues may give rise to sociopolitical instability around the world. This course will explore how the development and execution of U.S. domestic and foreign policy, and ultimately U.S. national security, can be impacted by emerging threats to nations from environmental health issues, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and natural resource shortages caused by rapid industrialization, population growth, and urbanization in less developed countries. It will also examine transnational threats from ozone depletion, deforestation, and climate change. In a seminar format, students and faculty will cover a variety of readings and discuss their conclusions. Students will have the opportunity to lead class discussions on assigned readings.