Political geopolitical analysis of the linkage between climate change, migration, and social insecurity in Khuzestan province

Introduction
The issue of security is one of the important and fundamental concerns of governments in the national space. Without security, no progress or development can be achieved in a country. Among the regions of the country, the southwest, particularly Khuzestan province, is significantly affected by security-related issues in various forms. This topic has impacted the spatial development of this part of the country both as a primary and secondary factor. This paper examines the perspectives on security and insecurity as secondary factors in the southwest region, particularly focusing on Khuzestan, and aims to answer the question: What are the most important security consequences of climate migrants on Khuzestan province? Climate change has emerged as a key topic in social, economic, and environmental research. According to international reports, the effects of climate change are such that millions of people worldwide are driven to migrate. Climate migrants or environmental refugees are individuals who are forced to leave their homes due to natural disasters or significant changes in their environment. Today, Khuzestan province is recognized as one of the most vulnerable areas in Iran, increasingly facing environmental crises due to escalating climate changes. This province is particularly challenged by issues such as drought, rising dust storms, and diminishing water resources. As a result, migration has become a serious challenge in this region. Thus, this research is designed to investigate the various dimensions of climate migrations and their impacts on economic and security issues in Khuzestan province.
 
Materials and Methods
This research was conducted in two phases. In the first phase, theoretical and conceptual data were collected through a review of existing literature and archival and library resources. This phase aimed to identify various aspects of the impacts of climate migrations and to gather primary data. In the second phase, an electronic questionnaire was used to collect field data, which included questions focused on the factors influencing migration and its impacts on local security and economy. The collected responses were analyzed using SPSS software, and to assess the reliability of the questionnaire, a Cronbach's alpha test was conducted, yielding a score of 0.750, indicating the reliability of the questionnaire. Additionally, the Friedman ranking test was used to analyze the data and extract results.
 
Results and Discussion
The research findings related to the consequences of the dust crisis are categorized into five dimensions: social-cultural, economic, political-governance, environmental, and defense-security.
To identify the most significant security consequences of each of these dimensions, the Friedman ranking test was utilized. The consequences of climate migrations in Khuzestan can be divided into several general categories: Social-Cultural Consequences: Increased Poverty: One of the most important issues arising from forced migration is the rise in poverty in communities that face a loss of workforce and business decline. Increase in Unemployment: The exodus of capable population results in labor shortages for employers, leading to unemployment in rural and disadvantaged areas .Increased Social Discontent: The gap between the government and the public, as well as heightened social protests, are significant consequences of the government's failure to respond to migrants and local residents. Economic Consequences :Decreased Agricultural Productivity: Agriculture, heavily dependent on water resources and vulnerable environmental conditions, significantly suffers from population displacement, leading to reduced productivity .Increased Cost of Living: Inability to meet basic life needs puts tremendous pressure on people's livelihoods .Disruption of Economic Activities: Forced migrations can lead to a decrease in investment levels in evacuated areas. Political-Governance Consequences: Increased Gap Between Government and Citizens: Neglecting the social and economic needs of migrants can lead to broader dissatisfaction within society .Evolving Ethnic Strains and Social Unrest: Population dislocation may exacerbate ethnic and cultural tensions, impacting peaceful coexistence. Geographical Consequences: Increase in Urban Marginality: Migration toward cities can lead to the emergence of slums and instability in urban areas, thereby creating further management challenges .Disruption of Ecological Balance: The outflow of labor from rural areas to cities can negatively affect the ecological balance of populations. Security-Defense Consequences: Increased Security Costs: Governments may feel compelled to raise security costs due to social unrest or issues arising from forced migrations, which puts pressure on public resources.Threats from Dissident Groups: The unique geographical and border conditions of Khuzestan make it susceptible to security threats, which could be aggravated by demographic changes.
 
Conclusion
Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that the impacts of climate migrations in Khuzestan not only result in economic problems but also affect social, political, geographical, and security dimensions. Therefore, policymakers must seriously address the management of conditions arising from climate change to prevent the consequences and impacts of climate migrations and to enhance community resilience these crises.