Etiology of the environmental crime caused by the armed forces

• In Event: Green Criminology #2 - War and Environmental harms and crimes

Abstract

Green criminology recognizes the negative impact of peacetime military activities on the environment but does not comprehensively explain the specific (governmental) perpetrators of environmental crime such as the armed forces. We present the cases of environmental harm, environmental crime, and environmental injustice caused by the armed forces with a typology and state definition of environmental crime of the armed forces. The etiology of environmental crime in the armed forces stems from the institutional (military) environment and is conditioned by political, economic, and geographical factors. Environmental crimes of the armed forces are different in developed and less developed countries and coincide with regional hotspots of environmental crime. Military commanders recognize expected and probable opposition and good cooperation with the local community. By the research done in the Republic of Slovenia, we confirmed that the geographical proximity of military installations affects the attitudes of the local population about the environmental harmful impact of military activities and increased local resistance. The members of the armed forces significantly perceive the environmental consequences of military activities (energy-chemical impacts, dangerous impacts, restriction of rights) as less threatening compared to residents of the local community or settlements outside the influence of military activities.

Keywords: environmental crime, environmental harm, military, armed forces, local community

Authors

• Silvo Grčar, PhD Student at Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security

• Katja Eman, Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor

• Andrej Sotlar, Professor of Security Sciences