Toward a Postcolonial Security-Environment Trade-Off Framework for Sea Powers

Thesis Abstract

This study investigates how postcolonial theorizing can recalibrate the security-environment trade-off for maritime powers, addressing the tension between naval dominance, strategic resource control, and ecological sustainability in littoral zones. The problem centers on the tendency of traditional security paradigms to prioritise power projection and resource extraction over environmental governance, thereby generating long-term vulnerabilities for coastal communities and regional stability. The aim is to develop a Postcolonial Security-Environment Trade-Off Framework that integrates geopolitical imperatives with environmental justice, sustainable maritime governance, and regional development. Specific objectives are (1) to map how postcolonial power ifferences shape security strategies and environmental policies in key sea powers, (2) to identify conceptual gaps between security doctrines and environmental governance in maritime settings, (3) to articulate a theoretical model that operationalizes a balanced trade-off between security objectives and ecological constraints, (4) to test the model against contemporary case studies to assess predictive validity, and (5) to propose policy and governance mechanisms that reconcile national security priorities with environmental sustainability and local livelihoods. The methodological approach combines qualitative and quantitative elements in a mixed-methods design. The study adopts a comparative case study strategy focused on three sea powers with divergent postcolonial trajectories—the United Kingdom, India, and South Africa—chosen for their distinctive strategic doctrines, colonial legacies, and marine spatial planning regimes. Data collection comprises (a) semi-structured interviews with 40 policymakers, military officers, and environmental planners, (b) analysis of 120 policy documents, white papers, and military doctrine manuals, and (c) environmental and maritime data drawn from 2001–2024 datasets on seabed resource extraction, shipping traffic, and ecosystem health indicators. Instrumentation includes a coding framework for policy discourse, a postcolonial impact index, and a maritime governance metrics instrument. Validity and reliability are ensured through triangulation, intercoder reliability testing (Cohen’s kappa > 0.80), and pilot testing of interview protocols. Analytical techniques combine thematic analysis for discursive data, with regression-based modeling and structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the relationships among postcolonial security orientations, environmental governance indicators, and socio-economic outcomes. The study develops a theoretical model comprising latent constructs such as Postcolonial Security Orthodoxy, Environmental Governance Capacity, Maritime Resource Stress, and Local Livelihood Resilience, and specifies relationships through SEM. The conceptual framework is iteratively refined through cross-case comparative analysis and matrix coding to identify causal mechanisms linking security trade-offs to environmental and social outcomes. Expected findings indicate that postcolonial security strategies frequently exhibit a trade-off pattern heightened naval presence and force posture correlate with constrained environmental governance and uneven livelihood impacts, yet selective integration of environmental safeguards can enhance regional legitimacy and resilience. It is anticipated that the Postcolonial Security-Environment Trade-Off Framework will reveal critical mediators such as governance legitimacy, regional environmental norms, and resource-sharing arrangements, and that cases with robust environmental governance and inclusive stakeholder participation demonstrate greater stability and reduced conflict propensity. The study expects to delineate threshold conditions under which security objectives align with environmental sustainability, and to identify policy levers—such as marine spatial planning, joint security-environment tribunals, and benefit-sharing mechanisms—that mitigate trade-offs. Contributions to knowledge include (1) a novel theoretical framework that operationalizes postcolonial critique within security-environment interactions in maritime domains; (2) an empirically grounded model that links security policies to environmental outcomes and local livelihoods across multiple postcolonial contexts; and (3) practical policy recommendations for building governance arrangements that harmonize strategic security needs with ecological integrity and social equity. The conclusion emphasizes the necessity of integrating environmental justice into security planning and urges policymakers to adopt rights-based, regionally inclusive approaches to maritime governance. Recommendations include implementing shared monitoring platforms, expanding capacity-building for environmental assessment within defense institutions, and institutionalizing participatory decision-making processes to ensure that maritime security strategies do not undermine environmental sustainability or community resilience.