Environmental Consequences of Civil War: Evidence from the Kurdish Conflict in Turkey

Abstract

Theories of environmental degradation as a predictor of armed conflict have gained momentum as scientists warn of the catastrophic consequences of global warming. Despite an increasing number of studies that emphasize this causal relationship, the literature is scant on the reverse linkage – environmental consequences of civil war. This study seeks to examine the impact of civil war on the environment and argues that state forces deliberately transform the environment to undermine rebels' ability to wage a war. Using data from the Kurdish conflict in Turkey, this study presents evidence for the devastating effects of civil war on deforestation and the agrarian economy.