The character of border conflict: Latin American border conflicts, 1830--1995.

摘要

This study reviews twenty-eight border conflicts in South America occurring between 1830 and 1995. The study seeks to understand the level of state response to border conflicts. Using both process tracing and reduction analysis, it assesses the conflicts for occurrence on contested borders, the existence of period-critical natural resources in the border areas, the existence of riparian rights issues in the conflicts, and immigration issues. It examines the type of period-critical natural resources whether extractable or renewable natural resources. Testing the original hypothesis that as period-critical natural resources are recognized in contested areas there is a greater likelihood that armed hostilities will occur, the study finds this to be too simplistic. Alternatively the study demonstrates that there is a complex and iterative relationship between the variables of contrasted border, period-critical natural resources and riparian access which, when all three coincide, raise the likelihood of armed conflict. It finds that immigration is a contributor to raising tensions over extractable period-critical natural resources and may serve as a rationale for instigating hostilities. The study also finds that technology serves to elevate and demote natural resources into period-critical status, and that as it does so, raising and lowering tensions along contested borders. Extractable natural resources are found to be more likely causes of armed conflict than renewable natural resources. The study concludes with observations on potential causes of 21st Century border conflicts.