The environment in Uruzgan: another battle?

Abstract

From August 2006 to August 2010, the Netherlands deployed a task force to the Afghan province of Uruzgan. As part of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), the Task Force Uruzgan (TFU) focused on the creation of security and stability in the region.

One of the elements which were taken into account in achieving that aim, was the environment. However, it has remained unclear how the Dutch government understood the environment in relation to the mission in Uruzgan. As it coincided with a growing international discourse linking environmental degradation and climate change to matters of security, this research assesses if the government followed in that vein.

In studying how the environment was understood in Uruzgan, this research has identified the environmental issues that are mostly associated with having conflict or security effects. It will be assessed if these issues showed signs of securitization, climatization, or otherwise. Additionally, the Dutch government justified the TFU’s deployment as a reconstruction-mission. In determining the qualification if environmental issues, the analysis assesses if environmental issues became part of the reconstruction-narrative.

The research will argue environmental issues to have been discussed little throughout the TFU’s deployment. Only two issues were relatively frequently mentioned: water and drought. The issue of water was the only one to have been qualified as a security concern. Nevertheless, it had shown more signs of climatization than of securitization. The issue of drought was primarily qualified as an agricultural and humanitarian concern, which fitted within the reconstruction-frame. Nevertheless, it will be argued its frequence of discussion was too little to have played any considerable role in the justification of the mission.