The consequences of climate change, such as weather disasters, water scarcity, or food shortages, pose significant challenges for societies worldwide. Numerous examples demonstrate that these developments can increase the likelihood of societal unrest and conflicts. However, the implications of climate change are multifaceted, and conflict is a complex phenomenon. This seminar addresses under which conditions manifestations of climate change affect different forms of social conflict. It does so by introducing students to key concepts and theories in conflict research and by engaging with various sub-strands in the vibrant literature on climate change and conflict. 

Besides the treatment of the substantive topic, this research seminar strives to help students adequately design and develop their own research projects. It will focus in detail on a) which datasets different research articles use for measuring climate impacts and social unrest, and b) which research designs and methods they use (e.g., quantitative large-n studies with observational event datasets, survey research, comparative case studies). In doing so, the seminar repeats core topics of introductory research design courses and applies them on a specific topic. Through discussions of current research, students will critically assess scientific contributions of existing literature. Specific attention will be paid on reflecting on the advantages and disadvantages of different research designs. Exercises and intensive discussions building upon of published literature on climate change and social unrest will prepare students intensively for writing a research design paper. Since this course focuses on empirical approaches to study climate chance and societal unrest, participants should have a basic understanding of analytical research and empirical methods.

Research-Masterseminar; Open for advanced BA-students

-       Collier, P., & Hoeffler, A. (2004). Greed and grievance in civil war. Oxford Economic Papers, 56(4), 563–595.

-       Petrova, K. (2021). Natural hazards, internal migration and protests in Bangladesh. Journal of Peace Research, 58(1), 33–49.

-       Tilly, C. (2003). The politics of collective violence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.