Global Resources and International Conflict: Environmental Factors in Strategic Policy and Action

This volume examines the extent to which global deficiencies and degradation of natural resources, coupled with their uneven distribution, can lead to unlikely alliances, national rivalries, and even war. The study evaluates the influence of such factors as geographical distribution, availability, scarcity, and depletion of the world's natural resources—including oil, natural gas, minerals, fresh water, ocean fisheries, and food crops—on strategic and military policy-making. Westing also studies the effect of differential population growth on the actual and perceived availability of resources and presents an expanded, environmentally based view of international security.