Journal article

On climate, conflict and cumulation: suggestions for integrative cumulation of knowledge in the research on climate change and violent conflict

Tobias Ide, Juergen Scheffran

GLOBAL CHANGE PEACE & SECURITY | ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD | Published : 2014

Abstract

Possible links between climate change and intra-state violent conflict have received major scholarly attention in recent years. But with few exceptions there is still a low level of consensus in this research field. The article argues that one reason for this disagreement is a lack of integrative cumulation of knowledge. Such an integrative cumulation is prevented by three obstacles, which have until now hardly been discussed in the literature. The first is the use of inadequate terms, discussed here with a focus on the labels ‘Malthusian’/‘cornucopian’ and the operationalization of key variables. Secondly, the weaknesses of large-N studies in research on climate change and violent conflict ..

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Grants

Awarded by Cluster of Excellence 'Integrated Climate System Analysis and Prediction - CliSAP'


Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the PhD programme of the German Environmental Foundation (DBU) and the Cluster of Excellence 'Integrated Climate System Analysis and Prediction - CliSAP' (EXC177), funded by the German Science Foundation (DFG).