Global Climate Change: Catalyst for International Relations Disequilibria?
Abstract
Climate was the dominant influence on geopolitical theory and international relations before the industrial revolution. Early scholars, such as Aristotle and Montesquieu, divided the world into temperature zones and the climatic forces in these zones were thought to be major influences on the political, social, and economic institutions that developed. Modem innovations like air conditioning and disease vaccines contributed to a process that dramatically lessened the influence of climate on international relations. However, other modem innovations such as coal-fired electric plants and gasoline-powered automobiles, as major factors contributing to global climate change, may reverse that process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA427007
Entities
People
- John T. Ackerman
Organizations
- University of Alabama