We are happy to announce that the Climate Change and African Political Stability (CCAPS) Program based at the Strauss Center for International Security and Law has joined the International Relations and Security Network. CCAPS is a collaborative research program among the College of William and Mary, Trinity College Dublin, the University of North Texas and the Strauss Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
CCAPS examines the impact of climate change on political stability in Africa and develops strategies for how to prevent related conflicts. In the words of CCAPS, the program aims at answering three main questions:
- Where and how does climate change pose threats to stability in Africa?
- What is the role of government institutions in mitigating or aggravating the effects of climate change on political stability?
- How effective is foreign aid in helping African countries adapt to climate change?
Last week, CCAPS launched version 2.0 of its Social Conflict in Africa Database (SCAD). The database includes a range of social conflict events not systematically tracked in other conflict datasets, including riots, strikes, protests, coups, and communal violence.
The ISN website features three of CCAPS’ publication series:
As CCAPS’ research progresses, we will be able to provide you with more and more of their interesting insights. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration and welcome CCAPS as a member of our network!
Recent Publications:
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Can Political Institutions Avert Violence from Climate Change? (August 2011) Climate change is likely to cause floods, droughts, and migration in Africa that could trigger political instability. But violent consequences are not inevitable. Domestic political institutions – “constitutional design” – could buffer the impact of climate change by channeling societal stress into non-violent outcomes. |
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Locating Climate Insecurity (June 2011) Much of the current discussion on Africa, climate change, and security is of limited practical use to policymakers, for multiple reasons: a lack of reliable data, a narrow focus on conflict as the only security outcome of interest, and insufficient attention to variations in vulnerability at the sub-national level. |
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Climate Change Adaptation in Nigeria (March 2011) This paper assesses sub-national vulnerabilities to climate change in Nigeria as a foundation for evaluating current and future adaptation priorities within the country and highlighting the security implications of climate change and adaptation. |