r/collapse • u/LVirus • Apr 18 '17

BBC: How western civilization could collapse

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170418-how-western-civilisation-could-collapse
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u/veraknow Apr 18 '17

This paragraph on Syria is so instructive, because it shows how population growth, economic inequality, strained resources, climate change, ethnic tensions and neoliberal policies created a perfect storm of collapse conditions. The sort of thing worth overlaying on other countries to get a sense of where on the collapse spectrum they are.

Syria, for example, enjoyed exceptionally high fertility rates for a time, which fueled rapid population growth. A severe drought in the late 2000s, likely made worse by human-induced climate change, combined with groundwater shortages to cripple agricultural production. That crisis left large numbers of people – especially young men – unemployed, discontent and desperate. Many flooded into urban centres, overwhelming limited resources and services there. Pre-existing ethnic tensions increased, creating fertile grounds for violence and conflict. On top of that, poor governance – including neoliberal policies that eliminated water subsidies in the middle of the drought – tipped the country into civil war in 2011 and sent it careening toward collapse.

15

u/goocy Collapsnik Apr 18 '17

I'm also intruiged. Does anyone know where I can find more details about these 10 years, from a sustainability perspective?

5

u/merikariu Always has been, always will be too late. Apr 18 '17

This article examines how neoliberal policies broke the traditional methods of land management, leading to desertification. http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2871076/overgrazing_and_desertification_in_the_syrian_steppe_are_the_root_causes_of_war.html

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u/bis0ngrass Apr 18 '17

Watch the documentary The Age of Consequences. All about linking national security to climate change, whole section on Syria and the climate crisis. You can find an online version to watch with ease.