Environment at War: Capturing Global Conflict in Arab Geographies

Militarization and organized violence are the primary causes of environmental degradation today. Informed by recent studies in political theory, environmental science, and art history, this paper argues that the war enterprise—rooted in the history of colonialism, slavery, and genocide, and sustained by extractive capitalism—is a force that has structured and continues to shape much of the world. Arab geographies, and specifically the region known as the “Middle East,” are highlighted here as the fulcrum of prolonged conflicts and frequent international intervention, largely motivated by a desire to control fossil fuels. From regular testing of new intelligent weapons and frequent deployment of lethal drones to armed factions waging guerrilla attacks on governments and civilians alike, violence in all of its contemporary manifestations cripples the region and has an environmental ripple effect globally. Ongoing warfare serves to obfuscate pressing issues such as rising temperatures, water scarcity, and deteriorating air quality, which are in turn exacerbating existing economic disparities and other sociopolitical predicaments that have plagued the region for decades. The paper surveys works by contemporary artists who interrogate the impact of conflict—Mona Hatoum, Abbas Akhavan, Thomas Hirschhorn, Shona Illingworth, and Ali Eyal—shedding light on issues that geopolitics constantly attempts to suppress. Beyond critique, these artists rethink the environment in ways that transcend the customary focus on natural habitats or climate change.