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Struggles over drinking water, new outbreaks of mass violence, ethnic cleansing, civil wars in the earth's poorest countries, endless flows of refugees: these are the new conflicts and forces shaping the world of the 21st century. They no longer hinge on ideological rivalries between great powers but rather on issues of class, religion and resources. The genocides of the last century have taught us how quickly social problems can spill over into radical and deadly solutions. Rich countries are already developing strategies to garner resources and keep 'climate refugees' at bay.
In this major new book Harald Welzer shows how climate change and violence go hand in hand. Climate change has far-reaching consequences for the living conditions of peoples around the world: inhabitable spaces shrink, scarce resources become scarcer, injustices grow deeper, not only between North and South but also between generations, storing up material for new social tensions and giving rise to violent conflicts, civil wars and massive refugee flows. Climate change poses major new challenges in terms of security, responsibility and justice, but as Welzer makes disturbingly clear, very little is being done to confront them.
Acknowledgements
1. A Ship in the Desert
2. Climate Conflict
3. Global Warming and Social Catastrophes
4. A Brief Survey of Climate Change
5. Killing Yesterday
6. Killing Today. Ecocide
7. Killing Tomorrow. Never-Ending Wars, Ethnic Cleansing, Terrorism, Shifting Frontiers
8. Changed Realities
9. The Revival of Old Conflicts: Faiths, Classes, Resources and the Erosion of Democracy
10. More Violence
11. What Can and Cannot Be Done - I
12. What Can and Cannot Be Done - II
Harald Welzer is Professor for Transformation Design at the University of Flensburg and Executive Director of the FUTURZWEI foundation.
"Welzer's thinking, like his writing, is fast, fresh and incisive. His book is a warning thatwarrants reading; it does not need tobe a forecast."
– European Voice
"An absolutely essential read."
– Morning Star
"An engaging and thought-provoking contribution to current conflict analysis."
– International Affairs
"A thought-provoking if uncomfortable read."
– Irish Times
"Should be considered mandatory reading for anyone with concerns over the impact of climate change upon their lives, their families, their communities, their country."
– Midwest Book Review
"If you have pondered what climate change means for humanity, here's a book for you [...] A fascinating tome."
– A-Men Magazine
"Welzer combines analytical insight with passionate conviction in calling on all of us to help stem the violence that flows from climate change."
– Martin Albrow, University of Wales
"Rampant climate change will redraw the geopolitical map of the 21st century. This book asks the uncomfortable but important questions that we will face in the future."
– Robert Falkner, London School of Economics and Political Science
