Ecoviolence: Links Among Environment, Population, and Security

by Peter Gizewski (Contribution by), Philip Howard (Contribution by), Kimberly Kelly (Contribution by), Valerie Percival (Contribution by), Thomas Homer-Dixon (Editor)

Overview

Ecoviolence explores links between environmental scarcities of key renewable resources-such as cropland, fresh water, and forests-and violent rebellions, insurgencies, and ethnic clashes in developing countries. Detailed contemporary studies of civil violence in Chiapas, Gaza, South Africa, Pakistan, and Rwanda show how environmental scarcity has played a limited to significant role in causing social instability in each of these contexts. Drawing upon theory and key findings from the case studies, the authors suggest that environmental scarcity will worsen in many poor countries in coming decades and will become an increasingly important cause of major civil violence.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742577756
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Publishing
Publication date:	09/03/1998
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	11 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Thomas Homer-Dixon is associate professor of political science and director of the peace and conflict studies program at the University of Toronto.

Jessica Blitt is an M.A. candidate at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs in Ottawa and an honors graduate of and former research assistant for the peace and conflict studies program at the University of Toronto.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: A Theoretical Overview
Chapter 2 The Case of Chiapas, Mexico
Chapter 3 The Case of Gaza
Chapter 4 The Case of South Africa
Chapter 5 The Case of Pakistan
Chapter 6 The Case of Rwanda
Chapter 7 Key Findings

Editorial Reviews

In bringing together these separately published studies, the editors have provided a readable summary of the research projects.

Population and Development Review - John I. Clarke

Throughout Ecoviolence, the various authors usually give carefully constructed accounts that avoid overstating the environmental case. Ecoviolence gives a much better picture of how environmental concerns can produce frequently unmanageable civil wars and regional warfare.

The Journal Of Conflict Studies

Throughout Ecoviolence, the various authors usually give carefully constructed accounts that avoid overstating the environmental case. Ecoviolence gives a much better picture of how environmental concerns can produce frequently unmanageable civil wars and regional warfare.

Journal of Conflict Studies

Both the introduction and the case studies are illuminating and can be recommended as baskgrounds to investigations of environmental security.

Geographical Journal

At last, Thomas Homer-Dixon and Jessica Blitt have brought together the products of a major research effort in one volume. This is a very readable book and highly recommended for all courses that deal with the environment and security.

Dennis Pirages

Whether installing a Republican majority or a Democratic majority, and whether loathing or liking Congress, citizens' attraction to congressional incumbents continues to dominate vote choice to such an extent that it is difficult to see the largerpicture. By focusing on those races with no incumbent running, Gaddie and Bullock are able to provide a remarkably fresh look at the dynamics of modern House races. Along the way they offer surprising results and a clear refutation of the belief that there is nothing new to say about congressional elections.

John R. Hibbing

These days speculation is rampant about whether environmental stresses and scarcities are factors contributing to violent conflict within societies. This volume—based on carefully structured case studies from five very different countries—offers a valuable reality check. Ecoviolence effectively demonstrates that the causal relationships between the environment and societal unrest are considerably more complex than is widely presumed.

Marvin S. Soroos

This is a fascinating and well-written analysis which is "must" reading for any course or other serious analysis of the interplay between the environment and popular uprisings in response to its continuing degradation.

American Society of International Law