Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Birthing Babies for National Defense - The Securitization of Falling Fertility Rates in South Korea

Palomäki, Maija (2024) COSM40 20241
Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
Abstract
The decrease in fertility rate has become an increasingly pressing matter worldwide. This research employed the Copenhagen School-rooted theory of securitization in analyzing the discourse on falling fertility rates within South Korea’s defense white papers from 2012 to 2022. In contrast to the mainstream security studies, the argument is that state-specific fertility rates can be considered a threat to national security despite being a non-material threat. The case study of South Korea and its Ministry of National Defense contributes to how the declining birth rate has been framed regarding national security with two questions; 1. How have different administrations framed the issue of falling birth rates in terms of security, 2. What... (More)
The decrease in fertility rate has become an increasingly pressing matter worldwide. This research employed the Copenhagen School-rooted theory of securitization in analyzing the discourse on falling fertility rates within South Korea’s defense white papers from 2012 to 2022. In contrast to the mainstream security studies, the argument is that state-specific fertility rates can be considered a threat to national security despite being a non-material threat. The case study of South Korea and its Ministry of National Defense contributes to how the declining birth rate has been framed regarding national security with two questions; 1. How have different administrations framed the issue of falling birth rates in terms of security, 2. What measures have been the consequences in response regarding military practices and national security? The analysis found that since 2020 the securitization of dropping fertility rates intensified strongly, positioning this demographic trend as a serious threat to South Korea’s national security and reached its peak in 2022. The frequency of measures taken in response to the threat was also highest in 2022. The state invested especially in advances in technology and science, force structure reorganizing, and improving the conditions and number of female army members. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Palomäki, Maija
supervisor
organization
course
COSM40 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
South Korean birth rate, Fertility rates, National security, Defense, Security studies, Securitization, Copenhagen school
language
English
id
9168270
date added to LUP
2024-06-25 12:53:47
date last changed
2024-06-25 12:53:47
@misc{9168270,
  abstract     = {{The decrease in fertility rate has become an increasingly pressing matter worldwide. This research employed the Copenhagen School-rooted theory of securitization in analyzing the discourse on falling fertility rates within South Korea’s defense white papers from 2012 to 2022. In contrast to the mainstream security studies, the argument is that state-specific fertility rates can be considered a threat to national security despite being a non-material threat. The case study of South Korea and its Ministry of National Defense contributes to how the declining birth rate has been framed regarding national security with two questions; 1. How have different administrations framed the issue of falling birth rates in terms of security, 2. What measures have been the consequences in response regarding military practices and national security? The analysis found that since 2020 the securitization of dropping fertility rates intensified strongly, positioning this demographic trend as a serious threat to South Korea’s national security and reached its peak in 2022. The frequency of measures taken in response to the threat was also highest in 2022. The state invested especially in advances in technology and science, force structure reorganizing, and improving the conditions and number of female army members.}},
  author       = {{Palomäki, Maija}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Birthing Babies for National Defense - The Securitization of Falling Fertility Rates in South Korea}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}