Two Narratives of Securitization and Norm Development in Transnational Governance of Critical Mineral Resources: Toward Realpolitik or Sustainability?

Abstract

Amid the rapidly increasing global demand for critical mineral resources driven by the energy transition and the AI revolution, critical mineral governance has become an urgent topic at the intersection of security and sustainability. Intensifying geopolitical turbulence from the Ukraine War and the US-China trade war has triggered the securitization of critical minerals, (re)shaping the core norm structure in the current transnational governance architecture. This paper examines competing approaches to securitizing critical minerals and the extent to which sustainability norms are developed in transnational governance institutions. Drawing on securitization and norm literature, this research traces institutional and discourse changes in 15 selected institutions, identified from a mapping exercise of 50 cases. The findings demonstrate two emerging securitization narratives: 1) a hierarchical national security-centered nexus, prioritizing national security norms over sustainability norms (norm-ordering), and 2) a horizontal multi-layered security nexus, emphasizing multiple norms interlinked, such as human rights, sustainability, peace and security (norm-layering). These competing approaches to securitization as a strategic practice of norm-making mirror normative fragmentations around accelerating bloc-alignments in the current geopolitical crisis. It signals a shift in the transnational governance architecture from conventional liberal multilateralism to "Realpolitik" which could foster accountability problems.