Critical Minerals and Armed Non-State Actors: How Illicit Trade Finances Conflict in the Energy Transition
Abstract As the global shift toward renewable energy accelerates, demand for critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, and rare earth elements has surged. However, this transition has inadvertently fueled illicit mineral extraction, providing armed non-state actors with new revenue streams and exacerbating conflicts in resource-rich but fragile states. This study investigates how the energy transition […]
Cross-Border Armed Groups and the Climate-Conflict Nexus: The Role of Resource Scarcity and Trade Routes
Abstract Climate-induced resource scarcity is reshaping transnational conflict dynamics, particularly in regions where armed groups rely on illicit trade routes for financing and logistics. This study examines how environmental stressors, such as droughts and desertification, influence the movement and operational strategies of cross-border armed groups in conflict-prone regions, including the Sahel, the Myanmar-Thailand border, and […]