UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 8-2011 Redefining security in sub-Saharan Africa Winta Sintayehu Gebremariam University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Policy Commons, Health Policy Commons, Political Science Commons, and the Public Policy Commons Repository Citation Gebremariam, Winta Sintayehu, "Redefining security in sub-Saharan Africa" (2011). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 1429. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/3362071 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REDEFINING SECURITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA By Winta Sintayehu Gebremariam Bachelor of Arts University of Las Vegas, Nevada 2006 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts in Political Science Department of Political Science College of Liberal Arts Graduate College University of Las Vegas, Nevada August, 2011 Unauthorized publication, modification or distribution of this material, in whole or in part, in any form or by any means without the written consent of the author is strictly prohibited. All rights reserved © 2011 THE GRADUATE COLLEGE We recommend the thesis prepared under our supervision by Winta Sintayehu Gebremariam entitled Redefining Security in Sub-Saharan Africa be accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Political Science Department of Political Science Dennis Pirages, Committee Chair Mehran Tamadonfar, Committee Member Jonathan Strand, Committee Member Satish Sharma, Graduate College Representative Ronald Smith, Ph. D., Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate College August 2011 ii ABSTRACT Redefining Security in Sub-Saharan Africa By Winta Sintayehu Gebremariam Dr. Dennis Pirages, Examination Committee Chair Professor of Political Science University of Nevada, Las Vegas New and challenging threats to humans are currently on the rise. These threats to human well being have been neglected and ignored within the traditional conception of security. Security studies have mainly focused on traditional threats, mostly military and political. Although still important, this perspective lacks the ability to address non- traditional threats that are killing and injuring millions each year. Each year, millions die of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hunger, and water related diseases among others. Although these threats are widespread throughout the world, Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of these threats. This thesis proposes an ecological approach to security in Sub-Saharan Africa due to its high number of premature deaths and sufferings from environmental problems, infectious diseases and resource scarcity. Four Sub- Saharan African countries have been selected to demonstrate the various insecurities in the region. The ecological security approach, proposed here, will mainly look at the human being as the unit of analysis and tries to lessen premature deaths of people by creating an understanding of human relationships with the environment, other species, and each other. iii The four countries selected for this study have shown similar results. In all four countries the number of people dying from infectious diseases and others far exceeds that of war and intentional injuries. Therefore, the thesis proposes that a new ecological approach to security is necessary for Sub-Saharan Africa in order to prevent and minimize the premature death and suffering of its citizens. iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis is dedicated to my loving brother Yonathan Sintayehu, I miss you, R.I.P. To Dr. Mehran Tamadonfar, my deepest gratitude for his great compassion, help and guidance. To Dr. Dennis Pirages, for his great advise and committed help throughout my work. Most of all, to my parents, Sintayehu Gebremariam and Million Gebreab for their unconditional love and support throughout my life, I love you. To my brothers and sisters, I love you all. And most important to My GOD, You are my strength. v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................. viii LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................. ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................1 CHAPTER II REDEFINING SECURITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .........9 Traditional Security Concept ..........................................................................9 Ecological Security .......................................................................................14 CHAPTER III ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES AND SECURITY IN SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA ........................................................................................29 Introduction ..................................................................................................29 Demographic Change ...................................................................................32 Resource Scarcity and Degradation .............................................................38 Land Degradation ................................................................................39 Economic Effects of Degradation .......................................................41 Environmental Refugees .....................................................................41 Water Scarcity .....................................................................................42 Food Security .......................................................................................44 Conclusion ...................................................................................................47 CHAPTER IV INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND SECURITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .................................................................................................................48 Introduction ..................................................................................................48 Malaria .........................................................................................................51 Diarrheal Diseases ........................................................................................52 Tuberculosis .................................................................................................53 HIV/AIDS .....................................................................................................53 Conclusion ...................................................................................................57 CHAPTER V ECOLOGICAL INSECURITY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA .59 Introduction ..................................................................................................59 Angola ..........................................................................................................60 Ethiopia ........................................................................................................66 Kenya ............................................................................................................72 Sudan ............................................................................................................75 Conclusion ..................................................................................................77 vi CHAPTER VI CONCLUSION ..........................................................................79 Summary .....................................................................................................79 APPENDIX A ........................................................................................................87 BIBLIOGRAPHY ..................................................................................................89 VITA ..................................................................................................................103 vii LIST OF TABLES Table 1. HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Basic Facts, 2000 .............................27 Table 2. Number of Undernourished Persons (Millions) ....................................46 Table 3. The Sectoral Impact of HIV/AIDS in South Africa ............................56 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. World Military Expenditure estimates, 1988-2008 ..............................12 Figure 2. World Population 1950-2050 ...............................................................35 Figure 3. Sub-Saharan Africa Population Growth from 1970-2005 ....................37 Figure 4. Angola’s