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Climate Crises and the Creation of ‘Undeserving’ Victims

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  • Elizabeth Stanley

    (Institute of Criminology, Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6012, New Zealand)

Abstract

This paper explores how advanced liberal democracies respond to climate migrants in ways that reflect colonial logics and practices. With a focus on the Pacific, it reflects on three constructions of climate crisis victims. First, as savages—those incapable of adapting or thriving under catastrophic environmental threats and who need to be saved by ‘the West’. Secondly, as threats—the hordes who will threaten white civilization and who must be sorted, excluded, detained and deported. Thirdly, as ‘non-ideal’ victims—those undeserving of full legal protections but who may survive under hostile conditions in receiving states. These political and policy responses create systemic harms and injustice for those who struggle under or must flee environmental degradation, and they function to ensure that those most to blame for climate crises are prioritized as having least responsibility to take action. The paper concludes with consideration of socially just responses to those most affected from climate harms.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Stanley, 2021. "Climate Crises and the Creation of ‘Undeserving’ Victims," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:10:y:2021:i:4:p:144-:d:538847
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Leon Sealey-Huggins, 2017. "‘1.5°C to stay alive’: climate change, imperialism and justice for the Caribbean," Third World Quarterly, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(11), pages 2444-2463, November.
    2. D. Coumou & G. Di Capua & S. Vavrus & L. Wang & S. Wang, 2018. "The influence of Arctic amplification on mid-latitude summer circulation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Kyle Whyte & Jared L Talley & Julia D. Gibson, 2019. "Indigenous mobility traditions, colonialism, and the anthropocene," Mobilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(3), pages 319-335, May.
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