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Space and Defense

Space and Defense

Abstract

Student Voices

Investigating potential connections between mass atrocity and climate change reveals that the vulnerability of food systems may be valuable predictive factor in understanding which states will respond to climate change with violence.

An ongoing study by Dr. John Riley and Lt Col. William Atkins shows that strong states tend to be able to cope well with the effects of climate change and not turn to violence. They also argue that the weakest states are already broken and on the path of committing a mass atrocity regardless of the effects of climate change. This leave a middle section of sates who are not too weak and not too strong. When some of these middle states experience the impacts of climate change, they turn to mass atrocity. These climate change-induced mass atrocities may occur due to the state's inability to provide for a displaced and needy population or the unwillingness of their leaders to deal with the situation. Whatever the reason may be, the response seen in the middle section is inconsistent; two states may appear similar by certain broad metrics, but only one of them commits a mass atrocity. The next question at hand is why we see this inconsistent response in this "Goldilocks zone."

DOI

10.32873/uno.dc.sd.13.01.1059

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