Food, water, and energy security matter because access to these resources affects survival, state stability, political power, and relationships between actors. In IB Global Politics, they can be studied within Security, an HL extension topic area, and connect to power, sovereignty, legitimacy, and interdependence.
Food security means reliable physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food. Water security concerns sustainable access to adequate, safe water, while energy security means dependable, affordable energy supplies. These forms are interconnected: producing food requires water and energy, supplying clean water requires energy, and some energy production consumes water or agricultural land. Disruption in one area can therefore intensify insecurity elsewhere.
| Area | Political significance | Contemporary example |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Shortages and price rises can weaken government legitimacy; exporters may gain bargaining power. | Russia's 2022 invasion disrupted Ukrainian grain exports. The Black Sea Grain Initiative enabled almost 33 million tonnes of exports before Russia withdrew in July 2023. |
| Water | Shared rivers constrain unilateral action because one state's choices affect others, creating competition or cooperation. | Ethiopia's filling of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam from 2020 increased tensions with Egypt and Sudan over Nile flows. |
| Energy | Control of fuels and infrastructure creates structural power, while import dependence limits policy choices. | After Russia's 2022 invasion, the European Union reduced reliance on Russian gas, diversified suppliers, and expanded renewable energy. |
A common misconception is that resource scarcity automatically causes armed conflict. Scarcity creates pressure, but institutions and diplomacy can support cooperation. A realist perspective emphasizes competition for strategic resources, whereas a liberal perspective highlights agreements and international institutions. Each lens is useful, but neither explains every outcome.
Exam technique: For an HL Paper 3 response, connect a case to two topic areas, such as Security and Environment. Evaluate actors' power and effects on sovereignty, legitimacy, or interdependence rather than describing shortages.
