scholarly journals Environment-Conflict Nexus: The Relevance of Thomas Homer-Dixons Environmental Conflict Theory in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 170-175
Author(s):  
Wiriranai B. Masara
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Social Cleavages ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
African Context ◽  
Environmental Scarcity ◽  
Violent Conflicts

Using practical examples, the paper examines the relevance of Thomas Homer-Dixons Environmental Conflict Theory within an African context.  It outlines that Homer-Dixon’s Environmental Conflict Theory is to some extent valid, but it suffers significant shortfalls that make its applicability and generalizability questionable. The paper has shown that the abundance of resources in Africa contributes more to violent conflicts than their scarcity.  Resources in Africa are vast, and so are environmental conflicts. The paper underscores factors that aggravate environmental conflicts such as depletion, degradation, social cleavages, population growth and environmental scarcity and recommend solutions on how they can be redressed.

Population Growth, Governance and Urban Social Conflicts in Africa

2016 ◽  
pp. 210-230
Author(s):  
Shaibu Bala Garba
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
Social Conflict ◽  
Conflict Situation ◽  
Social Conflicts ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Political Issues ◽  
African Context ◽  
Micro Level ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Property Destruction

Many African countries are witnessing an increase in social conflicts with negative impacts on their development. Most conflicts are urban centered, with causes rooted in social, economic and political issues and fatalities, property destruction and displacement as outcomes. This chapter asserts that issues of growth and governance are at the heart of conflict, with growth challenging the ability of most governments to deliver services. The chapter undertakes a broad examination of social conflict in the African context with focus on understanding their cause and effects and the role that population growth, urbanization and governance play in country conflict situation. The chapter examined conflict in three countries; Algeria, Kenya and Nigeria, from a macro and micro level, along with the role that population growth, urbanization and governance play. The chapter concludes with findings and recommendations on ways to mitigate conflicts.

On the Nexus Between Environmental Conflict, Migration and Governance: Concluding Remarks

2020 ◽  
pp. 219-230
Author(s):  
Günther G. Schulze
Keyword(s):  
Good Governance ◽  
Environmental Problems ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Feedback Effects ◽  
Methodological Challenges ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Non Linear ◽  
Important Direction ◽  
And Migration

This chapter summarizes the “Environmental conflicts, migration and governance” book’s key insights and reflects on theoretical and methodological challenges tied to the study of the nexus between environmental problems, conflict dynamics, and migration. The author argues that it is not entirely clear what is the most important direction(s) of causality in the environment, conflict, migration nexus. Multiple feedback effects exist that make the interdependencies non-linear in nature, reason why the author calls upon a cybernetic approach to further study the nexus. Understanding the different relations of the variables in this nexus provides entry points for good governance. However, the chapter argues the need to examine the interplay between environmental conflicts, migration and governance more comprehensively and context-specifically.

scholarly journals Mapping Environmental Conflicts Using Spatial Text Mining

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-hyuck Lee ◽  
Do-kyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Text Mining ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Mining Technique ◽  
Management Policies ◽  
Definition Of

Mapping the characteristics and extent of environmental conflicts related to land use is important for developing regionally specific policies. However, because it is only possible to verify the frequency of conflicts on a specific predetermined subject, it is difficult to determine the various reasons for conflicts in a region. Therefore, this study mapped the current status of regional environmental conflicts in South Korea using a spatial text mining technique, then proposed relevant management policies. The results were obtained by analyzing environmental conflict data extracted from the online agendas of regional environmental organizations. Air quality-related conflicts in South Korea are concentrated in western municipalities; development-related conflicts are concentrated in the southern region of Jeju Island; and intensive safety-related conflicts occur in metropolitan areas, particularly Ulsan. Thus, the type of conflict is determined by the local environment, in accordance with the definition of environmental conflict, and the distribution is determined by the location of the stakeholder population. This study reveals the issues and locations related to local environmental conflict that require further attention, and proposes more wide-ranging methods for managing the links between conflicts by mapping environmental conflicts on a large scale rather than on an individual basis.

scholarly journals A Hybrid Approach Using Fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS Assessing Environmental Conflicts in the Titan Mining Industry along Central Coast Vietnam

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (14) ◽  
pp. 2930 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manh Dao ◽  
An Nguyen ◽  
The Nguyen ◽  
Ha Pham ◽  
Dinh Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuzzy Ahp ◽  
Coastal Zone Management ◽  
Hybrid Approach ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Agricultural Area ◽  
Economic Sectors ◽  
Central Coast ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Settlement Area

Environmental conflict management gains significance in rational use of natural resources, ecosystem preservation and environmental planning for mineral mines. In Central Coast Vietnam, titan mines are subject to conflicting use and management decisions. The paper deals with an empirical research on applying a combination of the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to measure environmental conflicts emerging as a result of titan mining in Vietnam. The methodology used in the paper combines the fuzzy AHP and the fuzzy TOPSIS to rank environmental conflicts and propose conflict prevention solutions in the titan mining industry of Ky Khang coastal commune (Ky Anh district, Central Coast Vietnam). Data was collected by using a questionnaire with 15 locals, 8 communal authorities, 2 district authorities, and 12 scientific experts on titan mining, environmental geology, and sustainability management. The result shows that, titan mining conflicts with the eight criteria of economic sectors at five alternative sites including beach, protected forest, agricultural area, settlement area, and industrial area. The conflicts between titan mining and forestry, agriculture, settlements, fishing and aquaculture are highly valued. The beach area shows most environmental conflict as a result of titan mining, followed by the agricultural area and settlement area. Based on the empirical findings, legal and procedural tools such as environmental impact assessments, strategic environmental assessments, integrated coastal zone management, marine spatial planning, and multi-planning integration advancing environmental management for titan mines in Vietnam are suggested.

China and the Nile River Basin: The Changing Hydropolitical Status Quo

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-97 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.K. Mahlakeng
Keyword(s):  
Population Growth ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Nile River ◽  
Transboundary River Basins ◽  
Excessive Strain ◽  
Unequal Access ◽  
Nile River Basin ◽  
Environmental Scarcity ◽  
The Impact

The Nile River Basin (NRB), the world’s longest river, faces a considerable challenge of population growth, degradation and depletion, and equitable water utilisation, which have become a threat to peace and environmental security in the region. Moreover, the hydropolitical landscape of the Nile has been dominated by Egypt. However, the NRB is experiencing a change in its hydropolitical status quo. China has emerged as a financier to upstream countries’ hydropower projects, thus changing the upstream–downstream hydropolitical status quo. Although the existing governing regimes were not beneficial to upstream countries, China’s role in the Nile hydropolitics is not providing an alternative and beneficial and/or win–win cooperative framework. As a result, the environmental and political landscape of the already fragile Nile region has become threatened, thus increasing the potential for conflict. The purpose of this article is to determine, through Homer-Dixon’s environmental scarcity theory, the impact and effects of environmental scarcity in contributing to a nascent conflict. This study conceptualised Homer-Dixon’s environmental scarcity theory as a theory that argues for the potential of conflict in transboundary river basins as a result of environmental scarcity. Environmental scarcity is triggered by a combination of population growth and excessive strain on dwindling renewable resources, exacerbated by unequal access to that resource.

scholarly journals DESENVOLVIMENTO E MEIO AMBIENTE: (IN)JUSTIÇAS, DESIGUALDADES E CONFLITOS AMBIENTAIS / DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT: INJUSTICES, INEQUALITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 02
Author(s):  
Caio Floriano dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Environmental Inequality ◽  
Development Environment ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Managers ◽  
Development Processes ◽  
Development And Environment

O presente artigo apresenta um debate sobre meio ambiente, desenvolvimento, injustiça ambiental, desigualdade ambiental e conflito ambiental. Para tanto foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica acerca das temáticas, que são de extrema importância para que possamos refletir sobre os processos que se intitulam de desenvolvimento. Esses processos, em muitos casos, colocam formas diferentes de uso e apropriação dos recursos naturais em conflito ambiental, e em muitos casos geram injustiças e desigualdades ambientais. Mas também se percebe um aumento por parte de empreendedores e gestores públicos em técnicas de resolução negociada de conflitos que buscam sempre o ganho por parte das empresas. Torna-se necessário a ampliação de pesquisas e debates acerca dessas temáticas.Abstract:The purpose of this article is to promote a debate about: environment, development, environmental injustice, environmental inequality and environmental conflict. In this way, a review of the literature was made about those topics. This review had a strong importance in this article; since, through it was possible a reflection about the concept of development. The development processes normally create environmental conflict through the appropriation and nature reserves. As a result of these development, so many injustice and environmental inequality are produced. Moreover, the techniques to negotiate conflict resolution had increased between the entrepreneurs and the public managers, and the clearest highlight is that in these techniques normally the earnings go for entrepreneurs and their companies. In this way, the increasing of research and debates around those topics seems to be extremely necessary.Key-words: Development; Environment; Environmental Conflict.

Collective Memory and Nation-Building in Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Obinna Iroanya
Keyword(s):  
Collective Memory ◽  
Nation Building ◽  
National Consciousness ◽  
Collective Memories ◽  
Causal Factors ◽  
Documentary Analysis ◽  
Post Conflict ◽  
African Context ◽  
Mixed Approach ◽  
Violent Conflicts

Based on documentary analysis, this article argues that lessons of violent conflicts are rarely appropriated positively for nation-building in the context of post-conflict African societies. The article further stresses that the reasons often projected as causes of ineffective nation-building, such as multiple ethnicity and neo-colonialism, are unjustifiably projected as causal factors. It argues that diverse ethnicity remains a dormant destructive force until operationalised for political gains through misappropriation and deployment of collective memories. In the African context, post-conflict societies adopt the mixed approach of selective amnesia which emphasises amnesty, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration as necessary for nation-building. Experience, however, suggests that the operationalisation of this approach is always marred by inconsistencies and repression. Consequently, repressive mechanisms suppress violence and achieve relative stability. True reconciliation which is critical for nation-building is never achieved. Among loser ethnic groups (hereafter loser groups), resistance to selective amnesia and simultaneous preoccupation with collective memory of victimisation, discrimination and injustice continue to reinforce sentiments of group exceptionality and separatist impulses rather than national consciousness. Therefore, cautious expression of citizenship among segments of the loser groups continues to attract mutual suspicion and distrust from leadership of post-conflict states. It is concluded that the challenge of social contradictions in post-conflict societies is serious because neither the state nor loser groups positively deploy memory of conflict for nation-building. A new reconciliatory approach drawn largely from lessons of history is recommended for post-conflict nation-building efforts in post-conflict African states. Positive appropriation and deployment of memory for nation-building ensures amnesty and restoration without repercussions; and remembrance without resentment.

Economic Growth, Environmental Scarcity, and Conflict

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Reuveny
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Political Crisis ◽  
The People ◽  
Short Run ◽  
Environmental Scarcity ◽  
Conventional Solution

The global population is expected to reach nine billion by 2050, intensifying “environmental scarcity,” a term used here to denote environmental degradation and pressure on renewable and nonrenewable natural resources. Currently, environmental scarcity is more pronounced in less developed countries (LDCs) than in developed countries (DCs). Many argue that this scarcity is increasingly promoting armed conflicts in LDCs. The conventional solution to the problem of environmental conflict is economic growth. It is argued that as LDCs' income per capita rises to the level ofthat of DCs, their population growth and environ mental scarcity will decline, preventing conflict and building peace. This paper illustrates that the growth approach to conflict prevention probably will not work because the biosphere most likely would not be able to support a DC-level standard of living for all the people on Earth, at least not at the current state of technology. The resulting intensification of pressures on natural resources is likely to induce more, not less, environmental conflict. Still, economic growth in LDCs is important on both moral and practical grounds. One could make economic growth in LDCs ecologically—and therefore politically—feasible by balancing it with a coordinated economic contraction in DCs. The difficulties associated with implementing this approach are discussed. I believe that the approach will probably be rejected by DCs in the short run, but might eventually be initiated in response to some global ecological-social-political crisis. The problem is that such a crisis also might result in extensive damages. Whether or not such damages could be alleviated would depend on the nature ofthe crisis and the extent of the damages up to that point.

scholarly journals "Mundos" distintos: conflitos pela apropriação do litoral nordestino do Brasil

2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 39
Author(s):  
Norma Lacerda
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Conflict Theory ◽  
Cultural Resources ◽  
Cultural Conflicts ◽  
Legal Rules ◽  
Social Nature ◽  
The Social ◽  
Native Populations ◽  
Foreign Enterprises

Vários estudos têm mostrado que, desde a década de 1990, o litoral brasileiro, mais particularmente o nordestino, vem sendo urbanizado mediante grandes empreendimentos(nacionais e estrangeiros) voltados ao turismo de lazer. Todavia, muitos deles não evidenciam que a apropriação do litoral vem se realizando por meio de conflitos de índole socioambiental e cultural, envolvendo “mundos” diferenciados – o mundo do mercado turístico (empreendedores e consumidores) e o mundo das populações nativas. O presente texto tem como objetivo chamar a atenção para a natureza social desse processo de ocupação, ressaltando que a questão da preservação dos recursos naturais e culturais, por extrapolar esses dois “mundos”, emerge como um princípio superior comum (uma convenção) que, por sua vez, respalda normas legais, diante das quais os agentes devem interpretar e ajustar suas ações. Palavras-chave: apropriação do litoral; turismo; conflito socioambiental; teoria das convenções; desterritorialização; reterritorialização. Abstract: Several studies have shown that, since the 1990s, the Brazilian coastline, more particularly the northeast, has been urbanized by large (domestic and foreign) enterprises, aimed at leisure and tourism. However, many of them do not show the socioenvironmental and cultural conflicts in the process of appropriation of the coastline, involving sharply different “worlds” - the tourist market world (entrepreneurs and consumers) and the native populations world. This paper aims to draw attention to the social nature of this process of occupation, stressing that the issue of preservation of natural and cultural resources, by extrapolating these two worlds, emerges as a common higher principle (a Convention) which, in turn, supports legal rules, on which agents should interpret and adjust their actions. Keywords: appropriation of the coastline; tourism; socio-environmental conflict; theory of conventions; deterritorialisation; reterritorialsation.

scholarly journals Alternative Dispute Resolution and Environmental Conflict: The Case for Law Reform

1995 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth J. Swanson
Keyword(s):  
Dispute Resolution ◽  
Alternative Dispute Resolution ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Environmental Law ◽  
Environmental Conflict ◽  
Law Reform ◽  
Reform Initiatives ◽  
Environmental Conflicts ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Environmental Disputes

The author examines the growing trend towards the use of alternative dispute resolution in environmental conflicts. She surveys the state of ADR-related legislation in Canada and makes a proposal for law reform in this field. Her first objective is to define commonly-used ADR terminology. She considers the question, "how does ADR fit into the law and environmental disputes?" The author then looks at the alternatives for ADR and environmental law reform. There are two conflicting sets of values here. The first is that institutionalization of ADR (through legislation) would provide a clear and concrete mechanism for enforcing agreements, and thereby level the playing field for all parties. The other viewpoint is that workable legislation may be impossible to draft and that the strength of ADR is its ad hoc nature. The author favours the "institutional," or legislative approach to ADR reform and development She then surveys existing legislation, which is of two types: "ADR-specific" and "ADR-inclusive." Following this critical review, the author makes specific recommendations for future ADR/environmental law reform initiatives.

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