Oldal 89 [89]
ENVIRONMENTAL CONFLICTS,
SOCIAL RESPONSES
Viktor Glied
Environmental conflicts
Over the past half a century or so, an increasing number of disputes have centered
on the transformation of the environment through deliberate changes or
destruction. In order to understand the phenomenon of environmental conflict,
the notion of conflict has to be clarified. From the perspective of the environment,
a conflict is tension caused by the intrinsic or externally induced change of a natural
state, which entails social and/or political antagonisms and the suggestions for
whose resolution posit diverging objectives. In the 21“ century, a conflict is no
longer defined solely as an armed conflict, but rather also as a factor that endangers
our safety, whether it is a state caused by the degradation of the environment or
by the dwindling of natural resources (Kacziba 2017: 105). An environmental
conflict is always triggered by the change of, or the intention to change, our
environment. There are global, regional and local conflicts in general, but in each
and every case, the connection between environmental change and social, political
and economic processes needs to be explored and identified. Complex conflicts
are characterized by the antagonism of interests in the pursuit of resources and
tools, and those involved can only act upon their interests to the detriment of the
opposite party (Filép 2018: 6). Since environmental pressure and scarcity usually
prevail or even become graver, the actors of a conflict expand the scope and tools
of the assertion of their interests from diplomatic pressure through blackmailing
to violence and armed conflict, often resorting to several at once (Gleick 1990;
Homer-Dixon 1991; Länyi 2001; Libiszewski 1992; Glied 2013; Fülöp 2018;
Glied-Pänovics 2022). It is also arguable whether environment-related conflicts
are to be seen as environmental conflicts or just as conflicts in which the
environmental factor plays an important role. Since in 2022 as many as 8 billion
people live on the Earth, this guestion appears irrelevant, for there are hardly any
political or economic decisions that do not impact the environment, and
,conseguently, do not generate conflicts.
It is the job of researchers and experts to find and analyze the causes of
environmental conflicts, to prevent them, and when the conflicts cannot be avoided,
to mitigate their social and ecological effects. In his research, Arthur Westing has
attempted to identify the role played by the environmental factor in the major
armed conflicts of history. He concluded that the most important role was played
by the acguisition of natural resources (fresh water, surface waters, catchment
areas) and energy resources (hydrocarbons, mineral resources, precious metals),
followed by the possession of the necessary fishing resources and arable land
(Westing 1986). It must be added that endeavors to transform the natural resources,
the lasting, irreversible degradation of the environmental complexity (ecosystem)
and the scarcity of natural resources (pastures, farm land, fresh water) already led