From Threat to Opportunity: Does a Lack of Environmental Resources Lead to Cooperation?

Abstract

The research of the relationship between conflicts and natural resources
has been dominated by an understanding of natural resources as a cause
of conflicts, and the term “conflict resources” has been used in connection
with this. Here I o!er another approach and present the hypothesis that a
lack of environmental resources (environmental resources and raw
materials are together understood as natural resources) and environmental
degradation can o!er a peace-building opportunity. I argue that
environmental resources are not transportable, extractable or lootable,
which decreases their market significance. At the same time, the conflict-prone communities are aware that non-tradeable goods play a vital role in
their life and the quality of the goods depends on the collaboration among
all the actors in the region. This situation results in so-called “environmental
interdependence”. Environmental interdependence works as an impulse for
cooperation across the cleavage lines. The hypothesis is tested on two case
studies – that of the relationship between Israel and Palestine and that of
the relations between mainland China and Taiwan.