Environmental migrants and social-movement participation

Vally Koubi, Quynh Nguyen, Gabriele Spilker and Tobias Böhmelt
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Vally Koubi: 27219ETH Zürich & Department of Economics, University of Bern
Quynh Nguyen: School of Politics & International Relations, 2219Australian National University
Gabriele Spilker: Department of Political Science and Sociology, 27257University of Salzburg
Tobias Böhmelt: Department of Government, 2591University of Essex

Journal of Peace Research, 2021, vol. 58, issue 1, 18-32

Abstract: The displacement of people due to climatic changes (environmental migration) presents major societal and governance challenges. This article examines whether and how climate-induced rural-to-urban migration contributes to social-movement participation. We argue that the mainly forceful nature of relocation makes environmental migrants more likely to join and participate in social movements that promote migrant rights in urban areas. Using original survey data from Kenya, we find that individuals who had experienced several different types of severe climatic events at their previous location are more likely to join and participate in social movements. This finding has important policy implications. National and local authorities should not only provide immediate assistance and basic social services to environmental migrants in urban settings, but also facilitate permanent solutions by fostering their socio-economic and political integration in order to prevent urban conflict.

Keywords: climate change; Kenya; migration; social movements; survey; urbanization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:joupea:v:58:y:2021:i:1:p:18-32

DOI: 10.1177/0022343320972153

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