The Environment as a Factor in Small Wars* |
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Authors: | Marina Malamud |
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Institution: | National Council of Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET), Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani, área conflicto y cambio social- Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina |
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Abstract: | This research paper analyzes the relationship between small wars, insurgency, and the natural environment. Existing literature and data are organized into four behavioral patterns: the resource-based wars accounts for the fight over natural resources; the warfare ecology paradigm refers to non-premeditated damage in preparation for as well as during and after conflicts; the environment as a target discusses intended attacks on the ecosystem; and the insurgency–climate intersection pattern denotes a deviation in climate change that increases the frequency of intergroup violence. The main premise is that small wars emerge when the ecosystem becomes a political asset. |
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Keywords: | Small wars insurgency environmental sociology natural resources illicit networks geopolitics Colombia Afghanistan |
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