environmental pathways to peacemaking geoff dabelko woodrow wilson international center
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Environmental Pathways to Peacemaking Geoff Dabelko Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Propose turning the environment and conflict thesis on its head Can we exploit environmental problems strategically as part of broader peacemaking efforts?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Environmental Pathways
to Peacemaking
Geoff Dabelko
Woodrow Wilson
International Center
for Scholars
•Propose turning the environment and conflict thesis on its head
•Can we exploit environmental problems strategically as part of broader peacemaking efforts?
Environmental Pathways to Peace?• Can we utilize the logic of environmental
interdependence to talk across lines of tension?– State to state– Civil society to civil society
• Use cooperative efforts and dialogue to manage environmental resources as a way to transform insecurities and create more peaceful relations between parties in dispute
• Help overcome political tensions through interaction, confidence building, and technical cooperation
Environmental Pathways Along the Conflict Continuum
1. Environment as conflict prevention2. Environment as lifeline in times of
conflict 3. Environment as essential ingredient
to peace agreement4. Environment as post-conflict trust
builder
0
37
56
414
96
628
436
7
157
Formal War
Military Acts
Hostile Acts
Verbal Hostility
Neutral
Verbal Suppport
Non-military Agreement
Military Support
International Water Treaty
Source: Adapted from Wolf et al. 2003 in Water Policy
1,700 State-to-State Water Interactions in Transboundary Basins, 1946-1999
Lifeline in times of conflict and tension
• Arctic Military Environment Cooperation (AMEC)
• Picnic Table Talks• Environmental management - HELCOM
Environmental Engagement to Gain New Strategic Partners
• CENTCOM in Central Asia
• US Military-Military bilaterals with Vietnam, India, Thailand, Central American countries
Some Key Challenges
• Transparency and participation – finding the right mix and the right time
• Doing environmental peacemaking without calling it environmental peacemaking or environmental security
• Integrating development• Variable chances of success along conflict
continuum
Some Key Challenges
• Overcoming institutional barriers to cooperation among agencies
• Improving donor coordination and duration of commitment
• Size matters for donors and recipients• Shortage of capable facilitators• Staying behind the scenes – U.S. can’t always be
out front• How to demonstrate success if success is a null case