Historical climate-war nexus in the eyes of geographers

ABSTRACT Did climate change cause wars in history? While a growing number of quantitative studies (particularly in the field of geography) illustrate the climate-war nexus in pre-industrial societies, there are opposing opinions on the subject. Such conflicting views invite us to reconsider whether the climate-war nexus can be conceptualized as a yes/no dichotomy. This paper seeks to address this issue. I will first recapitulate the key findings of those quantitative studies of geographers that substantiate the significant role of climate deterioration in causing wars. Then I will pinpoint those issues that complicate the conceptualization of the climate-war nexus, indicating that the nexus cannot be taken as a simple yes/no question. Finally, I will propose a research approach that may facilitate a productive interdisciplinary collaboration, perhaps between geographers and historians, to conduct research on the interconnection between climate change and wars in history. I hope that the interpretation of the climate-war nexus can move away from a dichotomy of yes/no, and the multiple dimensions of wars and social resilience to climate change will be thoroughly considered. Also, the advantages of geography and history could be integrated to enrich understanding of the climate-war nexus in history.