Description
This paper explores security in the Anthropocene, drawing inspiration from recent research in International Relations and related fields on planetary interconnectedness, relationality, multispecies justice, and sustainability transformations. Whilst the concept of security has been a subject of intense debate and has evolved significantly in recent decades, it has largely remained rooted in a human-centric, ‘modernist’ view of politics. This has been challenged by the complex socio-ecological issues of our time. Based on in-depth investigations into the Amazon region, we introduce the concepts of 'eco-socio-cultural corridor' and 'socio-bioeconomy'. The former pertains to an area where connectivity is nurtured or constructed among ecosystems and landscapes as well as among people. The latter represents a production model that prioritises bio- and human diversity and the welfare of more-than-human communities, centred on responsible forest and river use and restoration. Both are built on the idea that security is interconnected, encompassing a variety of entities, species, and forms of knowledge, thereby transcending the 'either/or' dichotomy and bridging the 'material' and 'symbolic' dimensions that coexist in forest environments. We argue that these concepts can help transform security discussions and practices for planetary politics, nurturing ties amidst diversity, weaving them across divides, while promoting care for all species and the habitability of the Earth.
