The International Security Environment
The Coming Anarchy, by Robert D. Kaplan’s thesis about environmental scarcities will cause the descent into anarchy is a bit of an extreme statement in today’s society. Kaplan provides detail into the environmental factors that will result in anarchy and that low-intensity conflict will prevail resulting in the inability to distinguish between crime and war. Governmental agencies within any country are the first and foremost reason for additional turmoil within its borders, not the scarcity of resources. The scarcity of environmental assets, crime, overpopulation, tribalism and disease are directly attributed to a lack of influence from governmental leaders. Governmental agencies that are proactive in resolving environmental issues and providing aid to the populace will prevent the fall into a state of anarchy.
Kaplan states that “And West Africa’s future, eventually, will also be that of most of the rest of the world” , which, leads the reader to believe that the United States will fall victim of anarchy. Kaplan’s argument that the Ivory Coast is overwhelmed with violence and gang activities which are on the verge of anarchy would suggest the gangs within the US is also on the verge of anarchy. This statement is exceptionally bold considering the abundance of local and federal law enforcement agencies that the US maintains to control the law and order within our borders. Kaplan fails to divulge the full extent of lacking or even non-existent local law enforcement agencies that would aid in the protection of the populace and prevention of anarchy in the Ivory Coast.
According to the 2011 Census Bureau’s American Community Survey , almost 10 million people moved within different counties within the same state and an additional 7 million people moved to a different state entirely. These vast amounts of people moving suggests that Americans are more trusting of our federal government, centralized on individual needs and that they are not as inclined to local affiliations. This is contrary to Kaplan’s discussion that people from Montana and Alberta are more inclined to support each other vice that of their respective national capitals and the governments they represent.
As discussed previously, a strong government will provide the direction for the people despite the differences between the senior Leaders and the populace. Not all Americans will completely trust the elected President; however, they will respect the decisions and through our Freedom of Speech, make comments to improve our own well-beings. When Presidents lose an election, they depart the White House within the allocated timelines unlike in most Third World countries where the election loser may choose to remain in office, sparking the anarchy and chaos that Kaplan portrays.
Another of Kaplan’s arguments is that the scarcity of natural resources will lead to anarchy. Within the US, as of 12 OCT 12, we maintain 694.9 billion