Environmental Disruption: Push/Pull Factors, Human Migration, and Homeland Security

Abstract

Scenes of massive human populations have become frequent in recent times with those fleeing oppressive governments, civil wars, and atrocities against civilians from dictators. As overwhelming as these migrations have become to many destination states and countries, it is forecast that these will be minute to what might take place in the next fifty years due to climate change events. Environmental changes and disruptions affect human populations across the globe. Natural disasters, man-made catastrophes, and changes in weather patterns can dictate where and how one lives, or, in many cases, where one must migrate to sustain life. Lasting conditions such as drought, continual storms that lead to flooding alter the landscape and the ability for those living in these regions to sustain livelihood. Many areas of the world rely on agriculture and with changing environmental events, it becomes necessary for many to migrate to other regions, internal and international, to support their families. With these moves comes competition for, many times, already scares resources and culture differences that put a strain on local and state governments to maintain homeostasis. The cultural differences and increased human populations per square mile may create conflict that can affect homeland security efforts as well.