PRIO Network

Environment


Coordinator: Halvard Buhaug

How physical factors condition human affairs

This research group defines the environment in the broad sense of physical factors that condition human affairs, such as distance, terrain, natural resources, energy, and climate, as well as sociopolitical configurations of settlement patterns.

Research questions include:

  • What are the effects of resource scarcity and abundance on political violence?
  • Is climate variability and change associated with armed conflict?
  • To what extent does food insecurity threaten societal stability and peace?
  • What role does cooperation play vs. conflict in a situation of scarcity?

 

This research group also considers the demographic aspect of neomalthusian concerns, as well as ethnic distinctions and marginalization as potential causes of conflict and as convenient ways of organizing conflicts. Moreover, the group is interested in research on post-conflict societies, including evaluating the effects of intergroup power- and wealth sharing on reconciliation and prospects for a lasting peace.

Peer-reviewed-Journal-Article

Binningsbø, Helga Malmin; & Rustad, Siri Aas (2012) Sharing the wealth: A pathway to peace or a trail to nowhere? , Conflict Management and Peace Science 29(5): 547–566.
Gleditsch, Nils Petter (2012) Introduction to the Special Issure on Events Data in Conflict , International Interactions 38(4): 375–381.
Oba, Gufu (2011) Colonial Resource Capture: Triggers of Ethnic Conflicts in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya, 1903-1930 , Journal of Eastern African Studies 5(3): 505–534.
Rustad, Siri Aas; & Binningsbø, Helga Malmin (2012) A Price Worth Fighting For? Natural Resources and Conflict Recurrence , Journal of Peace Research 49(4): 531–546.
Bernauer, Thomas;Böhmelt, Tobias;Buhaug, Halvard;Gleditsch, Nils Petter;Tribaldos, Theresa;Weibust, Eivind Berg; & Wischnath, Gerdis (2012) Water-Related Intrastate Conflict and Cooperation (WARICC): A New Event Dataset , International Interactions 38(4): 529–545.
Benjaminsen, Tor Arve;Alinon, Koffi;Buhaug, Halvard; & Buseth, Jill Tove (2012) Does Climate Change Drive Land-use Conflicts in the Sahel , Journal of Peace Research 49(1): 97–111 .
Brochmann, Marit;Rød, Jan Ketil; & Gleditsch, Nils Petter (2012) International Borders and Conflict Revisited , Conflict Management and Peace Science 29(2): 170–194.
Bergholt, Drago; & Lujala, Päivi (2012) Climate-related Natural Disasters, Economic Growth, and Armed Civil Conflict , Journal of Peace Research 49(1): 147–162.
Slettebak, Rune (2012) Don’t Blame the Weather! Climate-related Natural Disasters and Civil Conflict , Journal of Peace Research 49(1): 163–176.
Theisen, Ole Magnus (2012) Climate Clashes? Weather Variability, Land Pressure, and Organized Violence in Kenya, 1989-2004 , Journal of Peace Research 49(1): 79–106.
Gleditsch, Nils Petter (2012) Whither the Weather? Climate Change and Conflict , Journal of Peace Research 49(1): 3–9.
Theisen, Ole Magnus;Holtermann, Helge; & Buhaug, Halvard (2012) Climate Wars? Assessing the Claim that Drought Breeds Conflict , International Security 36(3): 79–106.
Butler, Christopher K.; & Gates, Scott (2012) African Range Wars: Climate, Conflict, and Property Rights , Journal of Peace Research 49(1): 23–34.
Urdal, Henrik;Theisen, Ole Magnus;Gleditsch, Nils Petter; & Buhaug, Halvard (2010) Klimakriger? En vurdering av det faglige grunnlaget [Climate Wars? An Assessment of the Scientific Foundation] , Norsk Statsvitenskapelig Tidsskrift 26(4): 297–320.
Hegre, Håvard;Lacina, Bethany Ann;Owen, Taylor;Furlong, Kathryn; & Gleditsch, Nils Petter (2006) Conflicts over Shared Rivers: Resource Wars or Fuzzy Boundaries? , Political Geography 25(4): 361–382.

Book Chapter

Buhaug, Halvard; & Theisen, Ole Magnus(2012) On Environmental Change and armed Conflict Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict. Challenges For Societal Stability. : J. Scheffran, M. Brozka, H.G. Brauch, P.M Link, and J. Schilling(43–56).
de Soysa, Indra; & Roll, Michael(2011) Natural Resource Curse and State Failure: A Comparative View of Sub-Saharan Fuelling the World ­ Failing the Region? Oil Governance and Development In Africa¹s Gulf of Guinea. : Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
Lujala, Päivi; & Rustad, Siri Aas(2012) High-value Natural Resources: A Blessing or a Curse for Peace? High-Value Natural Resources and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding. : Earthscan(3–18).
Ross, Michael W.;Lujala, Päivi; & Rustad, Siri Aas(2012) Horizontal Inequality, Decentralizing the Distribution of Natural Resources Revenues, and Peace High-Value Natural Resources and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding. : Earthscan(251–259).
Rustad, Siri Aas;Lujala, Päivi; & Le Billon, Philippe(2012) Building or Spoiling Peace? Lessons from the Management of the High-Value Natural Resources High-Value Natural Resources and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding. : Earthscan(571–621).

Edited Volume

(2012) High-Value Natural Resources and Post-Conflict Peacebuilding. : Earthscan. Post-Conflict Peacebuilding and Natural Resource Management.

Non-refereed_Journal_Article

Buhaug, Halvard (2010) Reply to Burke et al.: Bias and Climate War Research , Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 107(51): E186–E187.

Popular Article

Benjaminsen, Tor Arve (2009) Samarbeid om knappe ressurser [Cooperation over scarce resources], Aftenposten, 10 December.
Gleditsch, Nils Petter (2010) Klima og politisk uro [Climate and Political Unrest], Aftenposten, 21 July.

Phd Thesis

Slettebak, Rune (2012) Climate Change, Natural Disasters, and the Risk of Violent Conflict. PhD thesis, Department of Sociology and Political Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, .

Master Thesis

Wischnath, Gerdis (2011) Climate Change and Civil War? A Quantitative Approach on Climate Variability and Armed Conflict in Asia. MA thesis, Department of Geography, University of Bonn, .

Conference Paper

Wischnath, Gerdis; & Buhaug, Halvard 2012 Heat Waves and Rebel Raves? On Climate Variability and Civil War in Asia, presented at the Annual convention of the International Studies Association, , 1–4 April.
Urdal, Henrik;Hoelscher, Kristian; & Buhaug, Halvard 2012 Does Urbanization Lead to More Peace? Rural-Urban Age Structure Differentials and Civil War, presented at The Annual convention of the International Studies Association, , 1–4 April.

PRIO Paper

Buhaug, Halvard;Hegre, Håvard; & Strand, Håvard (2010) Sensitivity Analysis of Climate Variability and Civil War, PRIO Paper, : PRIO.