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Drought and Extremism - How Climate Change Impacts the Power of Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria

Bressler, Thomas LU (2020) FKVK02 20201
Department of Political Science
Abstract
Findings about the relationship between climate change and conflict has, since research on the topic started in the late 1990s, been inconclusive. A more recent statistical study has however concluded that drought might prolong conflict under certain conditions. To further our understanding of this relationship, this single-N case study has investigated these recent findings on an extreme case, which is the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria. The insurgency was pushed back in 2015 by a multilateral government response but has in spite of this remained a threat in the region as of 2020. This study reveals a complex chain of events which has led to Boko Haram still being able to operate, thus prolonging the conflict. Structural... (More)
Findings about the relationship between climate change and conflict has, since research on the topic started in the late 1990s, been inconclusive. A more recent statistical study has however concluded that drought might prolong conflict under certain conditions. To further our understanding of this relationship, this single-N case study has investigated these recent findings on an extreme case, which is the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria. The insurgency was pushed back in 2015 by a multilateral government response but has in spite of this remained a threat in the region as of 2020. This study reveals a complex chain of events which has led to Boko Haram still being able to operate, thus prolonging the conflict. Structural conditions coupled with drought, in combination with deliberate Boko Haram action’s serve to make this region increasingly fragile to further climatic shocks. By placing drought within the causal chain of events this study elevates the common perception of drought being a “threat” to an integral part of the process of prolonging conflict and increasing instability. (Less)
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author
Bressler, Thomas LU
supervisor
organization
course
FKVK02 20201
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Climate Change, Conflict, Environmental Security, Drought, Boko Haram, Nigeria, Lake Chad
language
English
id
9011380
date added to LUP
2020-09-21 11:52:18
date last changed
2020-09-21 11:52:18
@misc{9011380,
  abstract     = {{Findings about the relationship between climate change and conflict has, since research on the topic started in the late 1990s, been inconclusive. A more recent statistical study has however concluded that drought might prolong conflict under certain conditions. To further our understanding of this relationship, this single-N case study has investigated these recent findings on an extreme case, which is the Boko Haram insurgency in Northeastern Nigeria. The insurgency was pushed back in 2015 by a multilateral government response but has in spite of this remained a threat in the region as of 2020. This study reveals a complex chain of events which has led to Boko Haram still being able to operate, thus prolonging the conflict. Structural conditions coupled with drought, in combination with deliberate Boko Haram action’s serve to make this region increasingly fragile to further climatic shocks. By placing drought within the causal chain of events this study elevates the common perception of drought being a “threat” to an integral part of the process of prolonging conflict and increasing instability.}},
  author       = {{Bressler, Thomas}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Drought and Extremism - How Climate Change Impacts the Power of Boko Haram in Northeastern Nigeria}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}