Type

Book

Author(s)

Suhrke, A.

Title

Pressure Points: Environmental Degradation, Migration and Conflict

Year

1993

Publisher

American Academy of Arts and Science

Abstract

This paper attempts to systematize the links between environmental degradation, migration and social conflict that are present in the literature. The starting point is one of skepticism towards the catastrophic notion that environmental degradation will generate massive population displacement which in turn will ignite social conflict. Conflict is obviously not a necessary consequence of migration; nor is it clear that environmental degradation by itself i s a magor cause of population movements. To determine under what conditions the sequence of degradation-displacement-conflict develops, we must address two central questions: first , is environmental degradation associated with particular migration patterns, i.e., are there environmentally driven migrations? And, second, when do such migrations result in conflict?

Citation

Suhrke, A. (1993). Pressure Points: Environmental Degradation, Migration and Conflict. Cambridge Mass. : American Academy of Arts and Science.