The Security Risks of Climate Change Displacement in Bangladesh
Journal of Human Security, Forthcoming
24 Pages Posted: 29 Aug 2012 Last revised: 19 Oct 2014
Date Written: August 29, 2012
Abstract
Bangladesh is often depicted as the epicentre of the migration/security nexus, with tens of millions of ‘climate refugees’ potentially inducing ‘climate wars’ in the alarmist scenario. This article interrogates whether, and to what extent, climate change-related movement in Bangladesh may give rise to three commonly suggested security risks: transnational security risks in relation to neighboring countries; and domestic security risks of radicalization and social conflict over resources. This article is a modest effort to ground consideration of the links between climate change displacement and security threats in a concrete case study. In doing so, it aims to test the prevailing assumptions in the literature against social realities on the ground, acknowledging security risks where they exist, and deflating those that are overblown.
Keywords: migration, displacement, climate change, Bangladesh, security, terrorism
JEL Classification: K10, K30, K32
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation