"Armed conflict and natural disasters have plagued the twenty-first century. Not since the end of World War II has the number of armed conflicts been higher. At the same time, natural disasters have increased in frequency and intensity over the past two decades, their impacts worsened by climate change, urbanization, and persistent social and economic inequalities. Providing the first comprehensive analysis of the interplay between natural disasters and armed conflict, Catastrophes, Confrontations, and Constraints explores the extent to which disasters facilitate the escalation or abatement of armed conflicts--as well as the ways and contexts in which combatants exploit these catastrophes. Tobias Ide utilizes both qualitative insights and quantitative data to explain the link between disasters and the (de-)escalation of armed conflict and presents over thirty case studies of earthquakes, droughts, floods, and storms in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. He also examines the impact of COVID-19 on armed conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and the Philippines."-- Provided by publisher.

Setting the Foundation: Disasters and Conflicts -- After the Disaster: Motives, Strategies, and Incentives for Conflict (De-)Escalation -- Cases, Conditions, and QCA -- Disasters and Armed Conflict Dynamics: Evidence from 36 Cases -- Armed Conflicts in the Aftermath of Disasters: Key Findings -- Conflict Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic -- Conclusion.