The political theologies of climate change-induced migration

Baldwin, A.

Abstract

This article aims to understand the political theologies at stake in the discourses and practices of climate change-induced migration. The argument proceeds from the idea that climate change-induced migration is an example of the absolute. It then traces how the absolute finds expression in two versions of the discourse on climate change and migration: the sovereigntist and liberal variations. The principal argument is that when we reduce the debate on climate change and migration to a set of competing secular claims, we risk overlooking the theological dimensions of the debate. Consequently, we risk posing the wrong questions about what is at stake in the phenomenon. The article argues in favour of using the phenomenon of climate change-induced migration as an occasion to ask: what does it mean to be human in the context of climate change?

Citation

Baldwin, A. (2014). The political theologies of climate change-induced migration. Critical Studies on Security, 2(2), 210-222. https://doi.org/10.1080/21624887.2014.932509

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 2, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Aug 28, 2014
• Publication Date: Aug 28, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 2, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 28, 2016
• Journal: Critical Studies on Security
• Print ISSN: 2162-4887
• Electronic ISSN: 2162-4909
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 2
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 210-222
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21624887.2014.932509
• Keywords: Climate change, Migration, Political theology, Sovereignty, Liberalism.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1451853