Eco-Criminological Security as a New Type of National Security

Abstract

The issues of ensuring national security in general as well as its specific types are now regarded as basic and defining for the life of modern society. In this sense, the provision of a safe natural environment for the person, the society and the state is the solution to the global problem of surviving and preserving life on Earth. The doctrine of national security shapes the modern criminal policy of the state. The processes of changing the world order in the last decade have posed the task of changing the paradigm of criminal policy. The concept of national security is at the stage of formation, the theoretical concept is already developed but the research of specific types of national security started relatively recently. It is especially true regarding the theories emerging through the contact of specific types of security and forming new structurally complex forms of interaction. This article presents the author’s views on the expediency of singling out the eco-criminological security as an independent area of scientific research. The complex emerging through the partial juxtaposition of ecological and criminological security is characterized by internal integrity and its thorough research helps create new knowledge that will make it possible to change the existing strategy and increase the effectiveness of ensuring a safe natural environment. A working definition of eco-criminological security that corresponds to the modern legislative and doctrinal approaches is presented for discussion in the research community. The author proves the need for a holistic research concept of ensuring eco-criminological security that will provide the systematization of the existing doctrinal works within a topical criminological paradigm. The author also presents her own vision of the object and subject of eco-criminological security as a new type of national security. It is suggested that the object of the theory of eco-criminological security should include six basic problems whose solution will provide protection for the most valuable rights and freedoms of the individual, the society and the state in the sphere of nature protection and sustainable use of natural resources. It is believed that the core of the eco-criminological security is the right to a favorable natural environment as a paramount value for the individual, the society and the state within the sphere of protection against criminal threats. The development of the presented research field is possible through a large-scale application of the principles of integrative criminological knowledge.