Drying lands - rising threats? A study of climate change as a threat multiplier to terrorism
2024 (English)Independent thesis Advanced level (degree of Master (Two Years)), 20 credits / 30 HE credits
Student thesis
Abstract [en]
As the effects of climate change become more severe, increased attention has been drawn to the insecurities created in the countries and communities most affected. This thesis investigates the complex relationship between drought and terrorism. Many scholars agree that a relationship can be found, but less certainty and consensus have been reached regarding the underlying factors that contribute to the likelihood of terrorism. This thesis will explore a causal mechanism consisting of internally displaced persons, terrorist recruitment opportunities and level of political stability and their potential effect. It investigates how these factors can be connected and to what extent the conditions can be traced in the relationship between drought and terrorism. Using a Structured Focused Comparison paired with elements of process tracing, the conditions linking drought to terrorism will be traced under four different periods, stretching from periods of drought and non-drought between 2015 and 2022. The study thus fails to reveal a direct relationship between drought and terrorism. However, the conditions that are investigated may have an indirect effect on the increased terrorism in the country. The results derived from the study further support previous research that drought and terrorism are not directly linked. This study highlights the importance of continuing and developing the effects of climate variability on terrorism. Specifically, it stresses the need for future research to investigate if and under what conditions climate-related shocks have on terrorism
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2024.
Keywords [sv]
climate change, climate variability, drought, terrorism, Benin
National Category
Political Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:fhs:diva-12268OAI: oai:DiVA.org:fhs-12268DiVA, id: diva2:1840243
Subject / course
Political Science with a focus on Crisis Management and Security
Educational program
Master's programme in Politics, Security and War
Uppsok
Social and Behavioural Science, Law
Supervisors
Examiners
2024-02-232024-02-222024-02-23Bibliographically approved