Journal article
Environmental peacebuilding in difficult contexts: a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of conditions for communal cooperation in Somalia
Journal of peace research, xjag036
2026
Abstract
Despite growing interest in environmental peacebuilding in recent years, there has been limited research exploring the conditions that contribute to local environmental peacebuilding. Existing empirical studies are predominantly qualitative single-case studies, valued for their theoretical insights but criticized for their limited external validity. Cross-case comparisons, although scarce, often rely on secondary data, leading to definitional and methodological inconsistencies. This study addresses this gap by employing multi-site fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify under what conditions local environmental cooperation is initiated and sustained over renewable resources in politically fragile contexts. We collected primary data through semistructured interviews on 22 intercommunal cases in which two communities engaged either in cooperation or in conflict over water access points in Puntland State, Somalia, covering the period from 2015 to 2023. The results highlight the relevance of the simultaneous presence of three conditions: preexisting trust, mutual interdependence, and traditional institutions. These conditions do not operate in isolation; they interact to enable cooperation and build peace related to the environment and natural resources. Our findings suggest that even in politically fragile, environmentally stressed, and highly climate-vulnerable places, local communities can find cooperative solutions to renewable resource disputes if specific conditions are met.
Details
- Title
- Environmental peacebuilding in difficult contexts: a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of conditions for communal cooperation in Somalia
- Authors/Creators
- Osman M Jama - Murdoch UniversityTobias Ide - Peace Research Institute FrankfurtOliver Fritsch - Murdoch UniversityPaul Taucher - Murdoch University
- Publication Details
- Journal of peace research, xjag036
- Publisher
- OXFORD UNIV PRESS
- Number of pages
- 14
- Identifiers
- 991005886483407891
- Copyright
- © The Author(s) 2026
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; College of Law, Arts and Social Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
Metrics
1 Record Views