Author: Marcin Orzechowski, ESPRi Working Paper No. 2, September 2012
The main aim of this article is to present a possible framework for investigating the effects of climate change on conflict. Recent literature on climate change and conflict mostly ignores the effects of contextual factors – political, economic and social conditions in a given country that could have extenuating effect on the outbreak of conflict or that could aggravate the risk of violence’s eruption. In order to create a cohesive theoretical model of possible social effects of climate change I integrate several approaches of conflict research to environmental studies. The template offered in the article could offer a significant clarification as to the theoretical basis and potential methods in studying the influence of changing environmental conditions on outbreak of conflict and violence. It could prove a useful tool for constructing research programs addressing the potential effects of climate change on different countries, societies, and groups. It could also create a way of comparing the results of different studies and resolving the misunderstandings that still plague this branch of conflict research.
Orzechowski, Marcin. 2012. Heating up the Conflict. A research proposition for investigating the influence of climate change on violent conflict. ESPRi Working Paper No 2. Sep-tember 2012.