Environment-Conflict Nexus: The Relevance of Thomas Homer-Dixons Environmental Conflict Theory in Africa

Wiriranai Brilliant Masara

doi:10.51867/ajer.v2i2.42

Authors

Wiriranai Brilliant Masara
billymasara@gmail.com
Institute of Peace and Security Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Keywords:

Environment-Conflict Nexus, Africa, Peace and Security, Homer-Dixons Environmental Conflict Theory

Abstract

Using practical examples, the paper examines the relevance of Thomas Homer-Dixons Environmental Conflict Theory within an African context. It outlines that Homer-Dixon’s Environmental Conflict Theory is to some extent valid, but it suffers significant shortfalls that make its applicability and generalizability questionable. The paper has shown that the abundance of resources in Africa contributes more to violent conflicts than their scarcity. Resources in Africa are vast, and so are environmental conflicts. The paper underscores factors that aggravate environmental conflicts such as depletion, degradation, social cleavages, population growth and environmental scarcity and recommend solutions on how they can be redressed.

Dimensions

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