The Treadmill of Destruction Goes Global: Anticipating the Environmental Impact of Militarism in the 21st Century

Over the course of human history, wars and warmaking have impacted the environment-scarring local and regional ecosystems long after peace breaks out (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute 1980). To anticipate the threats looming in the 21st century, this chapter begins with a review of the 20th century. In developing the ‘treadmill of destruction, ' Hooks and Smith (2004, 2005) focused on the Global North-especially the United States-emphasizing environmental inequality at home. In the 21st century, the treadmill of destruction is going global. Shaw’s (2002) insight into ‘risk-transfer militarism’ is useful in this regard. Barring a catastrophic war among the world’s Great Powers (resulting in the toxification of the entire planet), it is likely that there will be a ‘greening’ of the military in the Global North, shifting human casualties and environmental damage to the Global South. Of course, the relocation of environmental risks to the least powerful peoples and places is not new. But, the 21st century will likely witness a dramatic increase in the scale, scope and harm that result.