Case Study: Climate Change Dimensions of the Arab Spring (Chapter 2.5 in Massive Open Online Course on Environmental Security & Sustaining Peace) [Video]
Publisher: UNEP, ELI, Columbia University, Duke University, University of California Irvine, UNDP, EnPAx, and SDG Academy
Author(s): Marc Levy
Date: 2019
This case study considers the ways that climate stress influenced the escalation of social conflicts into violent conflict across North African and the Middle East, particularly in Syria. It underscores the concept that conflicts are multicausal and climatic events are often just one factor influencing whether there will be violent conflict. Marc Levy posits that government and social actions are crucial in this determination, as well.