HMDVA81
ASSIGNMENT 3
Due 9 July 2025
,HMDVA81
Assignment 3:
Unique No: 339400
DUE 9 July 2025
1. Introduction
The Sahel region—an expansive semi-arid zone that extends across northern Africa
from Senegal to Sudan—has emerged as a critical hotspot for examining the links
between environmental degradation and violent conflict. This region is increasingly
vulnerable due to a combination of natural and human-induced challenges. Fluctuating
climatic patterns, recurring droughts, soil erosion, and diminishing water availability
have placed tremendous pressure on livelihoods, especially in agrarian and pastoral
communities. Simultaneously, socio-political instability, weak governance, and the
proliferation of armed groups have further undermined social cohesion and peace in the
region (UNDP, 2023; Benjaminsen, 2021).
In this fragile setting, the concept of eco-violence has gained relevance as a framework
for analysing how ecological stress intersects with political, economic, and social factors
to fuel conflict. The term encapsulates a wide array of violent outcomes—ranging from
local disputes over natural resources to organised insurgencies—where environmental
pressures act as underlying or aggravating factors. The Sahel offers a compelling case
study, as environmental strain often overlaps with deep-seated ethnic, religious, and
political grievances, making it a prime example of how ecological factors can intensify
existing tensions.
This literature review aims to explore how eco-violence is understood within the context
of the Sahel, with a particular focus on the role of water scarcity and land use conflicts.
It critically evaluates scholarly articles, policy documents, and regional case studies to
examine both the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of the concept. By
adopting a thematic and critical lens, this review seeks to identify prevailing narratives,
, assess methodological approaches, and highlight areas where future research is
needed to inform effective policy and conflict resolution strategies.
2. Conceptualising Eco-Violence
2.1 Definitions and Origins
The concept of eco-violence is relatively new but rapidly evolving in academic and
policy discourse. It refers to violence that arises due to environmental degradation or is
significantly shaped by ecological stress. Unlike terms such as resource conflict or
climate-related violence, eco-violence adopts a more integrated perspective,
considering not only the environmental trigger but also the socio-political context that
transforms ecological stress into violent outcomes.
The origins of eco-violence theory are rooted in environmental security studies,
particularly those emerging in the post-Cold War period, which began to explore how
non-traditional security threats—like droughts, floods, and resource scarcity—could
disrupt societal stability (Homer-Dixon, 1994). Over time, the field evolved to recognise
that environmental degradation rarely leads directly to conflict; rather, it operates
through a complex set of mediating variables, such as poverty, marginalisation, weak
state institutions, and social fragmentation.
Eco-violence is best understood as a multidimensional process. For instance, in the
Sahel, declining rainfall and overgrazing have led to the degradation of arable land. As
a result, pastoralist groups are often forced to migrate into areas occupied by sedentary
farming communities, leading to competition over access to water and grazing lands.
Without effective conflict management mechanisms, these tensions can escalate into
violent confrontations, especially in regions with limited government presence or
historical intergroup mistrust.
Unlike more deterministic approaches that suggest a direct link between environment
and conflict, eco-violence theory emphasises context. It asks critical questions about
ASSIGNMENT 3
Due 9 July 2025
,HMDVA81
Assignment 3:
Unique No: 339400
DUE 9 July 2025
1. Introduction
The Sahel region—an expansive semi-arid zone that extends across northern Africa
from Senegal to Sudan—has emerged as a critical hotspot for examining the links
between environmental degradation and violent conflict. This region is increasingly
vulnerable due to a combination of natural and human-induced challenges. Fluctuating
climatic patterns, recurring droughts, soil erosion, and diminishing water availability
have placed tremendous pressure on livelihoods, especially in agrarian and pastoral
communities. Simultaneously, socio-political instability, weak governance, and the
proliferation of armed groups have further undermined social cohesion and peace in the
region (UNDP, 2023; Benjaminsen, 2021).
In this fragile setting, the concept of eco-violence has gained relevance as a framework
for analysing how ecological stress intersects with political, economic, and social factors
to fuel conflict. The term encapsulates a wide array of violent outcomes—ranging from
local disputes over natural resources to organised insurgencies—where environmental
pressures act as underlying or aggravating factors. The Sahel offers a compelling case
study, as environmental strain often overlaps with deep-seated ethnic, religious, and
political grievances, making it a prime example of how ecological factors can intensify
existing tensions.
This literature review aims to explore how eco-violence is understood within the context
of the Sahel, with a particular focus on the role of water scarcity and land use conflicts.
It critically evaluates scholarly articles, policy documents, and regional case studies to
examine both the theoretical underpinnings and practical applications of the concept. By
adopting a thematic and critical lens, this review seeks to identify prevailing narratives,
, assess methodological approaches, and highlight areas where future research is
needed to inform effective policy and conflict resolution strategies.
2. Conceptualising Eco-Violence
2.1 Definitions and Origins
The concept of eco-violence is relatively new but rapidly evolving in academic and
policy discourse. It refers to violence that arises due to environmental degradation or is
significantly shaped by ecological stress. Unlike terms such as resource conflict or
climate-related violence, eco-violence adopts a more integrated perspective,
considering not only the environmental trigger but also the socio-political context that
transforms ecological stress into violent outcomes.
The origins of eco-violence theory are rooted in environmental security studies,
particularly those emerging in the post-Cold War period, which began to explore how
non-traditional security threats—like droughts, floods, and resource scarcity—could
disrupt societal stability (Homer-Dixon, 1994). Over time, the field evolved to recognise
that environmental degradation rarely leads directly to conflict; rather, it operates
through a complex set of mediating variables, such as poverty, marginalisation, weak
state institutions, and social fragmentation.
Eco-violence is best understood as a multidimensional process. For instance, in the
Sahel, declining rainfall and overgrazing have led to the degradation of arable land. As
a result, pastoralist groups are often forced to migrate into areas occupied by sedentary
farming communities, leading to competition over access to water and grazing lands.
Without effective conflict management mechanisms, these tensions can escalate into
violent confrontations, especially in regions with limited government presence or
historical intergroup mistrust.
Unlike more deterministic approaches that suggest a direct link between environment
and conflict, eco-violence theory emphasises context. It asks critical questions about
