Environmental Scarcity and Violent Conflict: The Case of Chiapas, Mexico
Publisher: Project on Environment, Population and Security
Author(s): Environmental Scarcity and Violent Conflict: The Case of Chiapas, Mexico
Date: 1996
Topics: Conflict Causes, Governance, Land, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
Countries: Mexico
This paper identifies the different forms of environmental scarcities that affect the people of Chiapas, Mexico. In recent years, these scarcities have become acute. Increased demand for cropland arising from high human fertility and an influx of migrants occurred within the context of a long-standing inequitable distribution of land resources. The contribution of cropland degradation to environmental scarcity was localized to the Central Highlands. Environmental scarcities did not cause civil strife by themselves; in interaction with other factors, however, they multiplied the grievances of the campesino and indigena communities. At the same time, economic liberalization reduced the governing regime’s capacity in Chiapas and provided greater opportunities for violent challenges by opposition groups.