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Abstract
This article argues for a widening of the concept of security in South Asia to include critical environmental and development dimensions. It posits that non-traditional threats, such as resource scarcity (particularly water), environmental degradation, and large-scale displacement, pose a more immediate and profound threat to the stability of the region than traditional military challenges. The study examines the complex linkages between environmental stress, underdevelopment, and the potential for both intra-state and inter-state conflict. The research calls for a new, comprehensive security framework for South Asia, one that moves beyond a state-centric focus to embrace human security and environmental sustainability. The paper concludes that regional cooperation on these shared non-traditional security challenges is not just a matter of environmental policy but a fundamental imperative for long-term peace and stability.
Full Text
The traditional security discourse in South Asia has been overwhelmingly dominated by military and state-centric concerns. This paper challenges that narrow perspective, arguing for a significant "widening" of the security frontier to encompass the critical nexus of environment and development. The analysis begins by outlining the core tenets of the concept of comprehensive security, which recognizes that threats to a nation's well-being can emanate from a wide range of non-military sources. The core of the study is an application of this framework to the South Asian context. It provides a detailed examination of several key non-traditional security threats. A primary focus is on "water security," analyzing how the competition over shared river systems is a major potential driver of future conflict. It also explores the security implications of environmental degradation, such as deforestation and land degradation, which can lead to loss of livelihoods and forced migration, thereby creating social and political instability. The paper also links security to the challenge of sustainable development, arguing that persistent poverty and inequality are themselves fundamental sources of insecurity. The findings lead to a call for a new regional security framework under SAARC, one that prioritizes cooperative solutions to these shared human and environmental security challenges, complementing, and perhaps even transcending, the traditional focus on military confidence-building.