Climate-conflict literature has been growing intensively in the last decade. With a focus on African and Middle Eastern countries, various types of climate variables try to explain divergent...Show moreClimate-conflict literature has been growing intensively in the last decade. With a focus on African and Middle Eastern countries, various types of climate variables try to explain divergent natures of conflict. Many different mechanisms were shown as linking the two together. This study aimed to contribute to the literature by investigating the role of economic dependence on the agricultural sector in the relationship between social unrest and changing patterns of temperature and precipitation. It was asked, thus, to what extent does the economic structure of a country mediate the link between climate and social unrest, in the African continent? The large-N statistical analysis was conducted, including all the African countries, with a population of at least a million. Specifically, a negative binomial regression was run for the years from 1990 to 2007. The key finding suggested that the bigger the percentage of agricultural production in GDP is, the more the country is likely to suffer from temperature rise induced social unrest. This suggests that, because of climate change, economic reliance on the agricultural sector is dangerous for the political stability and even security in Africa. It calls for the importance of using planned adaptation techniques and educating the society on climate change and its effects.Show less
Climate change poses one of the biggest challenges of our times. One of the main contributors to climate change is agricultural production. The development of more sustainable agricultural...Show moreClimate change poses one of the biggest challenges of our times. One of the main contributors to climate change is agricultural production. The development of more sustainable agricultural practices is needed in order to mitigate the disastrous effects of climate change on future generations. This development can be approached from different disciplines. This thesis looks at the role archaeology can play in contributing to knowledge of agricultural sustainability. Therefore, the research question of this thesis is as follows: how can knowledge of pre-Columbian agricultural practices in the Central Andes contribute to more sustainable agriculture in the present and future? The research question is answered through an in-depth literature study of two case studies. The first case study looks at a research conducted by the Cusichaca Trust, of pre-Inca and Inca terraces in the Cusichaca Valley. The Second case study looks at the raised fields in the basin of Lake Titicaca, a research conducted by Clark Erickson. Both studies have looked at ways that archaeological research of pre-Columbian agriculture can be reused in a contemporary setting. The case studies will also be analyzed for their agricultural sustainability, focusing on the three different components: ecological, economic and social sustainability. This analysis shows that the pre-Columbian agricultural practices described in the two case studies are better environmentally speaking compared to current agricultural practices in the region. However, the analysis of economic and social agricultural sustainability proves to be incomplete and insufficient. This suggest that additional research has to be conducted in order to make any further statements about the implementation of pre-Columbian agriculture as a sustainable alternative for current agriculture in the Central Andes. The difficulties of implementing social and economic sustainability in the Central Andes partially arise from the changed social structures after the Spanish conquest. Even though archaeology cannot contribute to knowledge about all the facets of sustainability, the discipline does provide valuable insights through its long time depth into past agricultural practices. This insights can be of great use for the development of more sustainable agriculture in the present and future.Show less
This thesis argues that previous literature dealing with water scarcity conflicts and politics inside river basins misses out on important factors determining water scarcity. Hence, a political...Show moreThis thesis argues that previous literature dealing with water scarcity conflicts and politics inside river basins misses out on important factors determining water scarcity. Hence, a political geography and political ecology perspective is utilized in order to link international relations, political economy and geography. With this combination, concepts like food security, land-lease deals and their link with water scarcity are examined in order to illustrate that water scarcity is much more than water equity principles often found in transboundary river interaction between specific states. This thesis specifically focuses on the Nile Basin, most notably Egypt and Ethiopia in particular, and argues that many players from all over the world through investments and discursive practices interfere with Nile water allocation indirectly and obscurely. Hence, just hammering out a legal framework with Nile Basin riparians in not enough and should looked for in economic and discursive practices surrounding water scarcity.Show less
