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Environmental Scarcity and Violent Conflict: The Case of South Africa

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  • Val Percival
  • Thomas Homer-Dixon

    (Peace and Conflict Studies Program, University of Toronto)

Abstract

The causal relationship between environmental scarcities - the scarcity of renewable resources - and the outbreak of violent conflict is complex. Environmental scarcity emerges within a political, social economic, and ecological context and interacts with many of these contextual factors to contribute to violence. To examine this relationship, we outline a theoretical framework defining scarcities, the social effects arising from these scarcities, and the ensuing movement towards violence. We subsequently apply this framework to analyse the link between environmental scarcities and violent conflict in South Africa. Within South Africa, violence arose at precisely the same time that many anticipated a transformation to a more peaceful society - upon the release of Nelson Mandela, the end of the ban on political activity and the official end to apartheid. This article provides a new perspective on these events by analysing the link between South Africa's environmental scarcity and violent conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Val Percival & Thomas Homer-Dixon, 1998. "Environmental Scarcity and Violent Conflict: The Case of South Africa," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 35(3), pages 279-298, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:joupea:v:35:y:1998:i:3:p:279-298
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    Cited by:

    1. Willa Friedman, 2013. "Local Economic Conditions and Participation in the Rwandan Genocide," HiCN Working Papers 160, Households in Conflict Network.
    2. Annelin Molotsi & Bekezela Dube & Simon Oosting & Tawanda Marandure & Cletos Mapiye & Schalk Cloete & Kennedy Dzama, 2017. "Genetic Traits of Relevance to Sustainability of Smallholder Sheep Farming Systems in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Anders Jägerskog and David Phillips, 2006. "Managing Trans-boundary Waters for Human Development," Human Development Occasional Papers (1992-2007) HDOCPA-2006-08, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    4. Chun-Ping Chang & Aziz N. Berdiev, 2015. "Do natural disasters increase the likelihood that a government is replaced?," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(17), pages 1788-1808, April.
    5. Eberwein, Wolf-Dieter & Chojnacki, Sven, 1998. "Disasters and violence, 1946-1997: The link between the natural and the social environment," Discussion Papers, Research Group International Politics P 98-302, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
    6. Frances Stewart, 2011. "Economic and Political Causes of Genocidal Violence: A comparison with findings on the causes of civil war," Research Working Papers 46, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict.

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