Introduction

Since the 1970s, issues like climate negotiations, water wars, environmental migrations, and energy controversies have underscored how environmental regulations have become an unprecedented focal point in international relations. This shift is also evident in post-disaster management, where the multiplicity of actors and environmental concerns necessitates coordinated and transnational approaches. Since the 1980s, disaster management has taken on geopolitical significance, drawing global attention. Governments, international organizations, and NGOs play a critical role in disaster relief, addressing immediate needs such as food, water, and medical supplies. Humanitarian intervention, peacekeeping efforts, and post-disaster reconstruction have expanded since the 1990s, increasingly involving non-state and international actors. So-called natural disasters present complex challenges affecting various societal levels, with vulnerable populations—often with limited financial resources—bearing the brunt of these crises despite their minimal contribution to climate change.

This course will explore diverse aspects of international relations through the lenses of disaster management and international environmental policy. It will examine the variety of actors and strategies involved, highlighting that international relations extend beyond state-to-state interactions to include transnational relations involving non-state actors such as NGOs, international organizations, private foundations, and multinational corporations. In the field of disaster management, the influence of these actors is particularly pronounced. The growing presence of non-state actors in international relations can be attributed to several factors, including weakened national allegiances, increased transparency within international organizations, advancements in communication, and governments entrusting non-state actors with policy implementation, particularly in developing countries.

This course addresses international relations by integrating multiple perspectives to analyze complex phenomena through disaster management and international environmental policy. By examining climate negotiations, water wars, environmental migrations, and energy controversies, it draws from disciplines such as political science, economics, sociology, and environmental studies. It investigates the diversity of actors involved, including governments, NGOs, international organizations, private foundations, and multinational corporations.

By highlighting the dynamics of international relations and the diverse array of actors in disaster management, this course incorporates knowledge from fields such as humanitarian aid, development, vulnerability reduction, environmental protection, energy, and security. This multidisciplinary approach offers a deeper understanding of how different factors and actors interact to shape disaster responses and international environmental policies.

 This evaluation system balances deep, structured reflection (through written work) with dynamic classroom interaction, promoting both theoretical understanding and practical engagement.