Award Date

12-1-2014

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Political Science

First Committee Member

Dennis Pirages

Second Committee Member

John Tuman

Third Committee Member

Tiffiany Howard

Fourth Committee Member

Michele Kuenzi

Fifth Committee Member

Robert Futrell

Number of Pages

237

Abstract

The discourse of climate change has become important in the field of political science, as well as in the policy-making community. Climate change has become a political phenomenon that has and will greatly impact political stability regionally and globally. Using the ecological security theory as a framework, I explored the relationship between climate change and political stability in developing countries.

This study utilizes both qualitative and quantitative analyses to investigate the relationship between climate change and its effects on political volatility in developing countries. Using regression models, the author examined all non-OECD countries (140 countries) and their relationship to political instability. The results indicate that the rise in food prices, climatic events (droughts, famines and extreme temperatures) and floods increased the probability of protests, riots and revolutions in developing countries.

Utilizing qualitative methods, the countries that are developed for case studies are Egypt and Oman. Using the ecological security theory as a basis, the results suggest that climate change, in fact, acts as a threat multiplier, which increase the likelihood of political instability. Global warming impacts variables like food, water, oil, rapid population growth, health, and diseases in the Middle East and North Africa. In conclusion, I suggests several policy implications the international community should implement to mitigate the impact of climate change.

Keywords

Arab; Climatic changes; Developing countries; Global warming; Global warming – Political aspects; Middle East; Natural disasters; Policy sciences; Political stability; Third World; Violence

Disciplines

Climate | Environmental Sciences | International Relations | Islamic World and Near East History | Near and Middle Eastern Studies

File Format

pdf

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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