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One effect to rule them all? A comment on climate and conflict

Author

Listed:
  • H. Buhaug
  • J. Nordkvelle
  • T. Bernauer
  • T. Böhmelt
  • M. Brzoska
  • J. Busby
  • A. Ciccone
  • H. Fjelde
  • E. Gartzke
  • N. Gleditsch
  • J. Goldstone
  • H. Hegre
  • H. Holtermann
  • V. Koubi
  • J. Link
  • P. Link
  • P. Lujala
  • J. O′Loughlin
  • C. Raleigh
  • J. Scheffran
  • J. Schilling
  • T. Smith
  • O. Theisen
  • R. Tol
  • H. Urdal
  • N. Uexkull

Abstract

A recent Climatic Change review article reports a remarkable convergence of scientific evidence for a link between climatic events and violent intergroup conflict, thus departing markedly from other contemporary assessments of the empirical literature. This commentary revisits the review in order to understand the discrepancy. We believe the origins of the disagreement can be traced back to the review article’s underlying quantitative meta-analysis, which suffers from shortcomings with respect to sample selection and analytical coherence. A modified assessment that addresses some of these problems suggests that scientific research on climate and conflict to date has produced mixed and inconclusive results. Copyright The Author(s) 2014

Suggested Citation

  • H. Buhaug & J. Nordkvelle & T. Bernauer & T. Böhmelt & M. Brzoska & J. Busby & A. Ciccone & H. Fjelde & E. Gartzke & N. Gleditsch & J. Goldstone & H. Hegre & H. Holtermann & V. Koubi & J. Link & P. Li, 2014. "One effect to rule them all? A comment on climate and conflict," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 127(3), pages 391-397, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:127:y:2014:i:3:p:391-397
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-014-1266-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ole Magnus Theisen, 2012. "Climate clashes? Weather variability, land pressure, and organized violence in Kenya, 1989–2004," Journal of Peace Research, Peace Research Institute Oslo, vol. 49(1), pages 81-96, January.
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      • Couttenier, Mathieu & Hofstetter, Annie & Soubeyran, Raphael, 2013. "Drought and civil war in sub-Saharan Africa," INRAE Sciences Sociales, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE), Departement Sciences Sociales, Agriculture et Alimentation, Espace et Environnement (SAE2), vol. 2013, pages 1-6, March.
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